The Wellington Phoenix have been held to a draw by Melbourne Victory at Porirua Park despite an outstanding first half performance.
Maya McCutcheon’s early goal from a corner set the tone, but the Nix could not find a second finish.
A defensive error allowed Victory to equalise, and the match finished 1-1.
Wellington Phoenix head coach Paul Temple was left frustrated after the team’s performance was not reflected by the scoreline.
“I think we’ve probably come away from it disappointed with a point to be honest,” he told media post-match.
“I thought we controlled the game from start to finish. We had more possession, more of the ball, made more passes, looked the more likely.
“Ultimately, they got a goal off a mistake of ours, and that’s a horrible way to concede.
“For the players involved, they’re really frustrated with themselves, we’re frustrated as a team, but it’s just part of football as well.
“No issues from my point of view, you have to move on from those sorts of things. I think we took too long to move on from it, and that little ten-minute spell after the goal was a bit of a dead period in the game.
“After that we responded quite well, and the team was probably going to score the winner if there was going to be one.”
An impressive first half display could, and perhaps should, have led to a greater lead at half-time.
“The first half was good, it was what we intended from the game. Nick’s [coach Nick Stanton] been working hard with them on set pieces, and one of those came off brilliantly.
“It’s great when one of those comes off. As a staff, it’s what you work on, and we were really good in the first half.
“The rotation down the left side with Lara, Grace, and Annalie was deadly, and I thought they really struggled to contain us down that side.
“We just didn’t use it as much in the second half, which is frustrating and something we have to work on.”
It was a welcome return to Porirua Park for Temple after two games away, with a raucous crowd providing an energy boost.
“It’s always good to be here. It’s kind of typical of how we’ve been at home.
“We’ve been quite good in terms of dominating games and going after teams so I’m pleased with all that.
“It’s just a bit frustrating we’re not able to convert all of this attacking intent into more goals.
“I thought we missed an opportunity in the first half when we were that dominant to put another goal away. When you’re only 1-0 up, there’s that really fine edge.
“Victory are a team that’s been around finals, they know how to grind out results year after year, and they did that today.”
Seventeen year old Ela Jerez made her debut for the Nix after signing a scholarship deal at the beginning of the season.
“She’s deserved the opportunity to come in. She’s gotten better and better as the year’s gone on.
“The first three months she was adjusting to being a professional. She’s still so young, learning what it’s like, but she’s been really professional with her mentality as the year’s gone on.
“It’s hard for a young player to come in, they’re so nervous, but it’s good for her to get it out of the way. You’ll start to see her qualities come out. She’s a really technical player.”
Paul Temple made one change to the team that narrowly lost to Brisbane Roar, striker Olivia Fergusson replacing midfielder Daisy Brazendale. Teenager Ela Jerez was also included on the bench for the first time.
It was a dream start for the Nix, Maya McCutcheon heading in from a corner just 90 seconds into the match.
Annalie Longo was the creator in chief, having sparked chaos in the Melbourne penalty box before the corner, then delivering a pinpoint cross from it.
The Victory almost equalised immediately, Carolina Vilão called into action to make a brilliant double save after Sara D’Appolonia was set free inside the area.
Tiana Jaber was the next to try her luck ten minutes in, but her attempt from range sailed into the arms of Courtney Newbon.
The Phoenix were buoyed by the early strike, and kept Victory hemmed in with a ferocious press.
The left wing proved particularly productive, Lara Wall supplying regular crosses.
McCutcheon had a chance to double her tally following another corner, but couldn’t get over her shot on the bounce.
The Phoenix were firmly on top, a driving run from Manaia Elliott ending in a shot finding the side netting.
Elliott came even closer in the 27th minute, throwing herself onto another Wall cross before planting her header just wide.
A rare opening for the away side saw Emily Gielnik race through, but good recovery defending from Alivia Kelly meant the Matilda could only scoop over the bar.
Vilão was called into action again when D’Appolonia took aim, but a weak shot was never going to seriously test her.
And it was Grace Jale who had the last significant action of the first half, fizzing into Newbon’s arms from 25 yards out.
Elliott nearly opened the scoring five minutes into the second stanza, a cleverly worked free kick seeing her fire across goal, Newbon doing well to palm away.
Despite piling on pressure, Wellington were unable to find a second goal, which came back to bite them on the hour mark.
A defensive miscommunication allowed Victory substitute Nicki Flannery in to slot past Vilão and restore parity.
Fergusson almost instantly restored the lead when her shot on the turn was saved.
The goal had fired Melbourne up, and Jaber was required to make an outstanding sliding challenge to deny another clear chance.
Alivia Kelly and Alyssa Whinham produced two shots from distance in quick succession, before Temple turned to his bench for the first time.
Whinham and Fergusson were withdrawn for Emma Main and Ela Jerez, making her professional debut.
Main was set free almost immediately with a magnificent pass from Longo, but she was just unable to bring it under control when one-on-one with Newbon.
Both teams were able to create chances, but neither could take them, leading to a frantic final ten minutes.
WIth Wellington streaming forward to attack, Victory were able to find space on the counter.
The best chance forced Vilão into a brilliant save, taking the ball off Gielnik’s toes when she looked certain to score.
Amelia Abbott was introduced for the final five minutes, replacing Jaber to make her home debut.
And the last chance for Victory fell to Holly Furphy, her header barely floating wide left.
There was still time for McCutcheon to force Newbon into a stretching stop, but both sides ultimately had to settle for a point.
The Wellington Phoenix will return to action next Sunday, making the long trip to Perth to face the Glory in the final match before the international break.
Wellington Phoenix: 39. Carolina VILÃO (gk), 3. Tiana JABER (8. Amelia ABBOT 87th), 4. Mackenzie BARRY, 5. Alivia KELLY, 6. Maya MCCUTCHEON, 7. Grace JALE, 9. Olivia FERGUSSON (17. Ela JEREZ 74th), 10. Alyssa WHINHAM (20. Emma MAIN 74th), 11. Manaia ELLIOTT, 16. Annalie LONGO (c), 21. Lara WALL.
Unused substitutes: 13. Brooke NEARY (gk), 15. Daisy BRAZENDALE.
Melbourne Victory: 50. Courtney NEWBON (gk), 3. Claudia BUNGE, 8. Alana MURPHY, 10. Alexandra CHIDIAC, 13. Sara D’APPOLONIA (11. Nicki Flannery 60th), 15. Emily GIELNIK, 18. Kayla MORRISON, 23. Rachel LOWE, 24. Laura PICKETT, 27. Rosie CURITS, 66. Alana JANCEVSKI (9. Holly Furphy 60th).
Unused substitutes: 62. Geo CANDY (gk), 5. Sofia SAKALIS, 7. Ella O’GRADY.
Goals:
6. Maya McCutcheon (Wellington Phoenix) – 2nd
11. Nicki Flannery (Melbourne Victory) – 61st)
Cards:
9. Olivia Fergusson (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 23rd
Jeff Hopkins (Melbourne Victory) – yellow – 77th
