The Wellington Phoenix are “pretty crestfallen” after their Ninja A-League finals hopes ended in Canberra for the second straight year.
Canberra United have beaten the Phoenix 1-0 in their decisive match at McKellar Park to secure the sixth and final playoff berth.
The result leaves the Nix ninth on the ladder and seven points outside the top six with a round to play.
Phoenix head coach Paul Temple summed up the mood within the team shortly after the final whistle.
“I think everyone is pretty crestfallen by it, as you can imagine,” Temple said post-match. “It’s not a nice feeling.
“You’re always hopeful you can find a way to win and take it down to that last game next week, but it isn’t to be.
“Everyone is feeling pretty down…but I’m proud of the effort they put in. They put so much into the game, you could see that.”
It was Wellington’s 10th one goal defeat of the campaign and Temple felt the match summed up their season.
“We had a lot of the ball, we played some good stuff at times but never really created those cutting-edge opportunities that we could put away.
“The story of the season is that we’ve competed very well. I don’t think we’ve been outclassed by any of these teams we’re competing with at all. We’re very much in games. Almost every game this season there’s one goal in it.
“The biggest factor as to why we’re not playing finals football is we haven’t scored enough goals, and we haven’t managed the big moments well enough and ultimately that’s come back to cost us.”
The big moment at McKellar Park came midway through the first half when Canberra scored what turned out to be the match-winner.
“We made a big mistake which led to the corner. And then we didn’t do our job on the corner and we conceded a soft goal.
“We just got it all wrong. It was a catalogue of errors really straight after the error that led to the corner itself.
“It was a 30 second period of the game that we didn’t manage very well at all.
“Those moments are the big things and we haven’t been good at managing those moments and we’re not capitalising on them when they come our way, and ultimately that’s the difference.”
Paul Temple made just one change to the XI which started their defeat to Melbourne City before the international break with midfielder Daisy Brazendale replacing American defender Alivia Kelly, who moved to the bench. Attacking midfielder Liv Ingham was also brought on to the substitutes bench in place of fullback Zoe McMeeken.
Canberra had the first shot at goal just over 60 seconds into the match, but a big block from Phoenix centre back Mackenzie Barry snuffed out the opportunity.
The Nix came close to opening the scoring half a dozen minutes later when a looping free kick from captain Annalie Longo landed on the crossbar.
Wellington had two shots in quick succession in the 20th minute but neither was able to test Sally James in Canberra’s goal.
Phoenix goalkeeper Carolina Vilão made a great save down the other end shortly after to deny Michelle Heyman in her 200th A-League match after Heyman pounced on an overhit back pass and ran through on goal.
Unfortunately for Vilão, Canberra took the lead from the resulting corner with American defender Madison Ayson tapping home at the back post after the Nix were unable to clear the initial left-wing delivery.
Wellington continued to dominate possession after falling behind but struggled to create any clear-cut opportunities before halftime.
They were given a let-off deep in first half stoppage time. Vilão made a sharp save to deny Aideen Keane but the ball feel to Heyman who inexplicably shot wide from a couple of yards out.
The Matildas forward almost made amends seconds into the second half when she was picked out by Maja Markovski, but her volley sailed over the bar.
Vilão kept the Phoenix in the game four minutes later when she made a great reflex save to keep out a powerful volley from Ayson, who got on the end of a long-range free kick.
The save seemed to inspire the Nix, who had their best spell of the match for the next half a dozen minutes.
James made two fine saves to deny Olivia Fergusson, who got on the end of threatening crosses from first Lara Wall and then Manaia Elliott.
Fergusson also struck the right-hand post with a header in between her two goal-bound shots, but the flag was eventually raised by the assistant referee so it wouldn’t have counted if it was on target.
Wellington continued to press for an equaliser for the remaining half an hour plus stoppage time, but were unfortunately unable to threaten James’ goal.
Grace Jale came closest. She shot straight at Canberra’s goalkeeper from a free kick in the 64th minute, dragged a long-range effort wide of goal soon after and headed a right-wing corner into the ground and then into James’ arms with 10 minutes remaining.
Forward Emma Main ensured the hosts didn’t double their lead in the 85th minute when she produced an incredible goal-line clearance to prevent Canberra scoring direct from another left-wing corner.
The Phoenix had a chance to secure a draw with the last kick of the game but Barry’s snap shot from a long ball forward was again comfortably saved by James.
Canberra United celebrated securing their place in the finals while the Phoenix were downcast after being ruled out of finals contention with a round to play.
The Wellington Phoenix will finish their season at Porirua Park on Easter Sunday against finals-bound Western United.
Wellington Phoenix: 39. Carolina VILÃO (gk), 3. Tiana JABER (5. Alivia KELLY 68th), 4. Mackenzie BARRY, 6. Maya MCCUTCHEON (19. Liv INGHAM 89th), 7. Grace JALE, 9. Olivia FERGUSSON (14. Mebae TANAKA 81st), 11. Manaia ELLIOTT, 15. Daisy BRAZENDALE (10. Alyssa WHINHAM 68th), 16. Annalie LONGO (c), 20. Emma MAIN, 21. Lara WALL.
Unused substitutes: 13. Brooke NEARY (gk).
Canberra United: 1. Sally JAMES (gk), 5. Madison AYSON, 10. Mary STANIC-FLOODY (4. Holly MURRAY 70th), 11. Emma ROBERS (9. Ruby NATHAN 90+3), 12. Hayley TAYLOR-YOUNG, 13. Sofia CHRISTOPHERSON, 17. Maja MARKOVSKI (2. Alex MCKENZIE 70th), 21. Aideen KEANE, 23. Michelle HEYMAN (c) (7. Jynaya DOS SANTOS 90+6), 25. Darcey MALONE, 32. Bethany GORDON.
Unused substitutes: 18. Coco MAJSTOROVIC (gk).
Goals:
5. Madison AYSON (Canberra United) – 25th
Cards:
2. Alex MCKENZIE (Canberra United) – yellow – 82nd
5. Alivia KELLY (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 86th
7. Jynaya DOS SANTOS (Canberra United) – yellow – 90+7
