The Wellington Phoenix had to settle for one point after conceding a 94th minute equaliser in Brisbane last night.
After slow starts from both sides, the Phoenix were the first team to strike after Bozhidar Kraev headed home Mohammed Al-Taay's neatly placed cross in the 51st minute.
The Phoenix held off Brisbane Roar's efforts to find an equaliser for most of the second half until a looped cross found Roar defender Corey Brown at the back post to deny the Nix three points away from home.
Ben Old looked to be fouled in the lead up to the late goal as Keegan Jelacic produced a strong challenge deep in the Nix's defensive third, but play was waved on by the match officials.
Wellington's head coach Giancarlo Italiano was forced to play a rotated side with star striker Oskar Zawada starting on the bench as he's still recovering from his recent thigh injury.
The Phoenix were also without their captain Alex Rufer, missing due to suspension alongside experienced defender Tim Payne who is recovering from an ankle injury.
"I'm disappointed to give the two points away at the end… I felt we did enough to graft that out," said Italiano in a post-match press conference.
Italiano also praised the efforts of his younger players, in particular 19-year-old defender Isaac Hughes who earned his first start for Wellington.
"Hughes was one of the best players on the park tonight."
The Phoenix remain 3 points clear on the top of the A-League men's ladder, however, the unbeaten Melbourne Victory have the chance to go level on points with the Nix as they travel to play Newcastle Jets this evening.
The Phoenix return to Sky Stadium to host third place Central Coast Mariners on Waitangi Day.
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