The Wellington Phoenix have left it late to snatch a share of the spoils from their first match of 2026.
Brooke Nunn has scored in the eighth minute of second half stoppage time to secure the Phoenix a 2-2 draw with Brisbane Roar at Kayo Stadium in Brisbane.
Manaia Elliott had opened the scoring for the Nix in the 15th minute but the Roar equalised almost instantly and took the lead shortly after the half hour mark.
Phoenix head coach Bev Priestman was satisfied to leave Brisbane with a draw.
“If you’d asked me at the beginning of the game I’d say no, but you ask me at the end and yes, I’m very happy to take the point,” Priestman said post-match.
“Overall whenever you take points on the road you have to be happy.
“The first half we weren’t at our best. They changed shape and we took some adjusting to that.
“But in the second half we did a much better job of preventing any shots.
“What I’m most proud of is that the team never gave up and they went to the very end. Sometimes some of the best teams cannot be at their best and still take points out of a game, especially on the road.
“And to get back-to-back points on the road and three games undefeated, we have to also be proud of that.”
The Nix remain fifth on the A-League ladder, a point behind reigning premiers Melbourne City who they host at Porirua Park next Saturday.
“That was a great game we had last time against Melbourne City. To do that at Porirua Park in front of our fans, we’ve got a great opportunity in front of us.
“Today we had some lessons to learn around when we’re at our best and when we’re not.
“In that first half defensively we weren’t the team that maybe we’ve been in recent weeks, so to get back to the basics, get set up well and hopefully give Porirua Park a good game.”
Wellington may be without Sabitra “Samba” Bhandari, who limped off with a knee injury late in the second half.
“We’re not sure yet. I think she’ll definitely need to get a scan on her knee.
“It could be nothing but it also could be something and it’s something we need to look into.”
Bev Priestman made two changes to the XI which started Tuesday night’s 3-0 win over Western Sydney Wanderers, one of which was enforced with captain CJ Bott ruled out with a knock. New signing Emma Pijnenburg was named to make her starting debut in Bott’s place, while Manaia Elliott came into the side in place of fellow wingback Lara Wall. Mackenzie Barry led the Phoenix in Bott’s absence.
The Phoenix made a bright start and Nunn had a shot blocked in the Brisbane six yard box in just the fourth minute.
Elliott put the Nix in front a quarter of an hour into the contest with a speculative effort from distance wide on the left. She saw Roar goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln off her line and tucked her shot inside the right-hand post as Lincoln scrambled backwards.
Brisbane equalised almost straight from the kick-off, with American Ashlyn Miller stroking home from the top of the box after they found some space down the left flank.
The hosts were enjoying a good spell and Wellington goalkeeper Vic Esson had to make a good save to deny Miller a second four minutes later.
The Roar took the lead with a goal of the season contender in the 34th minute. Ava Piazza produced a thumping strike from distance that flew into the back of the net after Esson had punched away the original free kick.
Emma Main, in her 50th A-League game, almost scored straight from a corner four minutes from halftime when her left-wing delivery rattled the crossbar and Brisbane held on to their 2-1 advantage until the break.
The Phoenix threw everything at the Roar in the second half.
Samba invertedly blocked Ellie Walker’s shot in the 56th minute following an attacking corner and Lincoln made some good saves soon after to first deny Samba and Daisy Brazendale who replaced Pijnenburg seven minutes into the second half.
Lucía León and Wall also entered the game shortly after the hour mark in place of Main and Pia Vlok as Priestman searched for an equaliser.
Brisbane cleared a left-wing corner off the line midway through the second half.
They cleared another left-wing corner off the line in the 77th minute and then Lincoln denied Samba from close range. The Nepalese striker had to be replaced soon after, with Zoe Benson coming on for the remainder of the 90 plus stoppage time.
It looked like Wellington’s efforts would be in vain until the eighth minute of time added on when Nunn delivered a cross from the right flank which beat Lincoln at her near post and nestled in the back of the net.
There was little time left for either team to win the match with the points shared between the Phoenix and the Roar for just the third time.
The Wellington Phoenix will return home tomorrow before quickly turning their attentions to Saturday’s match against Melbourne City at Porirua Park.
Wellington Phoenix: 1. Victoria ESSON (gk), 4. Mackenzie BARRY (c), 5. Ellie WALKER, 7. Grace JALE, 9. Sabitra BHANDARI (27. Zoe BENSON 80th), 11. Manaia ELLIOTT, 16. Marisa VAN DER MEER, 20. Emma MAIN (21. Lara WALL 61st), 23. Brooke NUNN, 24. Pia VLOK (14. Lucía LEÓN 61st), 32. Emma PIJNENBURG (15. Daisy BRAZENDALE 52nd).
Unused substitutes: 22. Aimee DANIELI (gk), 28. Grace BARTLETT.
Brisbane Roar: 1. Chloe LINCOLN (gk), 2. Leia VARLEY, 3. Daisy BROWN (4. Kijah STEPHENSON 62nd), 5. Aimee MEDWIN, 7. Momo HAYASHI (c), 11. Marianna SEIDL, 17. Bente JANSEN, 22. Ava PIAZZA (8. Josie STUDER 80th), 24. Sharn FREIER, 27. Ashlyn MILLER, 32. Alicia WOODS.
Unused substitutes: 12. Tahlia FRANCO (gk), 6. Ruby CUTHBERT, 15. Kiera MEYERS, 18. Amali KINSELLA.
Goals:
11. Manaia ELLIOTT (Wellington Phoenix) – 15th
27. Ashlyn MILLER (Brisbane Roar) – 17th
22. Ava PIAZZA (Brisbane Roar) – 34th
23. Brooke NUNN (Wellington Phoenix) – 90+8
Cards:
3. Daisy BROWN (Brisbane Roar) – yellow – 55th
5. Ellie WALKER (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 78th
1. Chloe LINCOLN (gk) (Brisbane Roar) – yellow – 90+2
