Wellington coach Giancarlo Italiano says the Phoenix gave Melbourne City "Christmas" after letting a two-goal lead slip, then having a potential match-winning penalty saved to stumble to a 2-2 draw
Reigning A-League Men champions City were seeking a response to last week's 6-2 humiliation at the hands of Macarthur FC, while Wellington were playing their 500th game.
City's disorganised defence was twice brought undone by Wellington's Ifeanyi Eze, who leapt to the top of the golden boot standings with his sixth and seventh goals of the season in the 23rd and 52nd minutes of Friday's home match.
Then City's Medin Memeti - who on Thursday was found by Football Australia to have no case to answer regarding allegations of racist abuse towards Brisbane striker Justin Vidic - turned the game at Sky Stadium.
Memeti, 18, teed up Marcus Younis in the 73rd minute, before equalising four minutes later.
Wellington's Manjrekar James had the chance to bury City from the spot in the 91st minute, but his penalty was saved by Patrick Beach.
"That was Christmas given to Melbourne City," Italiano said.
"I don't think they merited anything out of the game, we've given them two goals, we've missed a penalty.
"That just probably sums up our whole season at the moment."
City held on for a point despite losing Harry Shillington to concussion, then Takeshi Kanamori with a right knee injury.
The visitors were without Nathaniel Atkinson (suspension), while new signings Daniel Arzani and Harrison Delbridge weren't ready yet so didn't travel to New Zealand.
Wellington took the lead when Carlo Armiento launched a long ball towards Eze, who attacked alongside City's Samuel Souprayen.
City goalkeeper Beach needlessly came off his line to enter the aerial contest and the ball spilled, with Eze pouncing to score.
Wellington doubled their lead when Kazuki Nagasawa picked out Eze, who got the better of Souprayen, then beat Beach at his near post.
Aurelio Vidmar responded with a triple substitution and City got back in the game in the 73rd minute after an inspired moment from substitute Younis.
Brilliantly released by Memeti, Younis burst past Phoenix goalkeeper Alby Kelly-Heald before scoring.
For City's second, star Wellington recruit Bill Tuiloma dawdled on a backpass and Memeti nipped in, with his initial shot saved by Kelly-Heald before the young gun equalised on his second attempt.
Wellington had a chance to take the lead from the spot after Liam Bonetig was penalised for handball.
But James's penalty was tame and Beach made an imperious save.
"It was a difficult week for us after last week, but to bounce back from 2-0 (down) and take a point - and I thought we could have had three points tonight," City defender Aziz Behich told Sky Sports NZ.
"That could have gone either way at the same time. So, look, we have a lot to work on, but we take the point and move on."
Ninth-placed Wellington hosts Victory next Friday, before seventh-placed City travels to face Western Sydney next Saturday.
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