The Wellington Phoenix are celebrating their maiden win over Melbourne Victory in the Ninja A-League.
The Phoenix women have beaten Victory 1-0 at Porirua Park in Wellington, thanks to a goal from teenager Pia Vlok late in the first half.
The Nix had been winless in their previous seven meetings with last season’s beaten grand finalists, with four draws and three defeats.
It’s also Wellington’s first win of the new season and sees them jump from last to fifth on the ladder.
Head coach Bev Priestman was delighted to achieve a club first given she was without six first team players.
“I’m super, super proud of the performance of the players,” Priestman told media post-match.
“They showed a more mature performance to just grind out a win, and I knew I had to do that with the players that I had available.
“It feels great going into the international window with a win. We’re on the board now and off we go.”
At 17 years and 80 days old Vlok has become the youngest goal scorer in the team’s short history.
“Young players sometimes can get overwhelmed…but she stuck to her role, she did her job [and] she executed, and that’s the sign of a great player.”
Priestman was also proud of the defensive showing against a quality Victory team.
“Everyone was immense. Towards the end it was just defend for your life and they did that, and we have to take pride in a clean sheet.
“I thought all three centre backs were outstanding and then the wingbacks did their job, particularly at the end.
“Defensively other than individual errors we’ve looked structurally sound and we’ve done a good job of keeping some good players out of the net today.”
Bev Priestman made one enforced change to the starting XI with Football Fern Manaia Elliott replacing Alyssa Whinham, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last Sunday. 18-year-old reserves team forward Grace Bartlett was named amongst the substitutes for the first time.
Elliott was lively down the Phoenix’s right in the first half and she got in behind the Victory defence a couple of times in the opening quarter of an hour, but she was unable to produce the final pass to create a goalscoring opportunity.
She made a chance of her own in the 21st minute when Vlok found her in space outside the box. Elliott unleashed a powerful shot that was spectacularly saved by Courtney Newbon in the visitors’ goal.
It signalled the start of a good spell for the Nix.
Lara Wall delivered a enticing left-wing cross soon after that was just over the head of Emma Main and Brooke Nunn saw a cross-come-shot land on the roof of the Victory net.
Pia Vlok put Wellington front in the 39th minute when she tapped home at the back post after Elliott drove in a great right-wing cross.
The goal saw Vlok eclipse Milly Clegg as the women’s team’s youngest goal scorer by a day.
The two combined again on the stroke of halftime when Vlok found Elliott with a defence-splitting pass, but the Football Ferns winger found the netting on the wrong side of the right-hand post.
Main had a chance within seconds of the second half kick-off when Wall delivered a quality cross on to the edge of the six yard box, but Main was only able to steer it straight at Newbon.
The Victory had their first shot on target three minutes later when Vic Esson comfortably saved a Alana Jancevski free-kick.
Victory playmaker Rhianna Pollicina was on target soon after with a shot from outside the box but it was straight at the Phoenix ‘keeper.
The visitors weren’t able to register another shot on target for the remainder of the match, with the Nix defending astutely.
The Victory were off target with 16 of their 18 shots, 12 of which came in the second half.
Priestman made just one substitution in the match with Daisy Brazendale replacing an ailing Main midway through the second half and Grace Jale moving up front.
The Phoenix had some half chances on the break but ultimately Vlok’s goal was enough to secure them their first three points of the season.
The Wellington Phoenix will return to action after next week’s trans-Tasman internationals with a trip to last season’s premiers Melbourne City in a fortnight.
Wellington Phoenix: 1. Vic ESSON (gk), 2. CJ BOTT (c), 4. Mackenzie BARRY, 5. Ellie WALKER, 7. Grace JALE, 11. Manaia ELLIOTT, 16. Marisa VAN DER MEER, 20. Emma MAIN (15. Daisy BRAZENDALE 68th), 21. Lara WALL, 23. Brooke NUNN, 24. Pia VLOK.
Unused substitutes: 22. Aimee DANIELI (gk), 12. Ella MCMILLAN, 19. Liv INGHAM, 26. Lily BRAZENDALE, 28. Grace BARTLETT.
Melbourne Victory: 1. Courtney NEWBON (gk), 3. Claudia BUNGE, 5. Sofia SAKALIS (28. Sienna TECHERA 74th), 9. Holly FURPHY, 10. Rhianna POLLICINA, 16. Kennedy WHITE, 18. Kayla MORRISON (c), 19. Zoe MCMEEKEN (7. Ella O’GRADY 86th), 23. Rachel LOWE (41. Jessica YOUNG 90+3), 66. Alana JANCEVSKI, 81. Grace MAHER.
Unused substitutes: 30. Payton WOODWARD (gk), 24. Laura PICKETT, 27. Rosie CURTIS.
Goals:
24. Pia VLOK (Wellington Phoenix) – 39th
Cards:
16. Kennedy WHITE (Melbourne Victory) – yellow – 45+3
2. CJ BOTT (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 88th
