The Central Coast Mariners and a severe southerly have ended the Wellington Phoenix’s winning run at four matches.
The defending champion Mariners have beaten the Phoenix 2-1 at Porirua Park in a match played in extreme wind and driving rain.
The Nix were unable to capitalise on playing with the wind at their backs in the second half after Central Coast snatched a 2-1 halftime lead with a goal in first half stoppage time.
Phoenix head coach Bev Priestman cut a frustrated figure after the final whistle but gave credit to the Mariners.
“The result I’m disappointed with,” Priestman told media post-match. “I felt we were better going into that terrible wind.
“Central Coast are a good team, they’ve got good experience [and] there’s a reason they got to where they got to last year.
“They showed that in the big moments today. They showed their experience…and their experience of playing with the conditions.
“Sometimes we were trying to be too clever in the game, but I thought they did a very good job, to be fair to them, in managing the lead and managing the wind.
“It’s something we need to learn from. This is Wellington, we’ve had one day like this and there could be many more. It’s important learning of playing with the wind and how you use the wind to your advantage.”
And Priestman hopes the defeat has a positive impact.
“I’m frustrated but maybe this is the kick up the bum that you need at this point. I never like us to get too comfortable.
“Of course I’d like to come away with a win, but it keeps people in check [and] it makes sure we keep pushing forward.
“It’s never great to lose at home but I think this might be the little bump in the road we need to push forward again.”
Bev Priestman made three changes to the XI which started the 1-0 win over Perth Glory on Waitangi Day with Manaia Elliott, Daisy Brazendale and Mackenzie Anthony coming into the side for Lara Wall, Emma Pijnenburg and Grace Jale respectively. Jale was ruled out with delayed onset concussion, while Wall and Pijnenburg were named amongst the substitutes.
Despite playing into the howling southerly in the first half the Phoenix pinned the Mariners inside their defensive third for the opening 10 minutes.
Makala Woods had the first half chance for the Nix in the third minute, shooting on the turn after finding some space in the Mariners’ penalty area before being denied by a last ditch block.
Woods had another opportunity a handful of minutes later when Elliott slipped her in behind the Central Coast defence. The American rode a challenge from behind and unleashed a shot that was well-saved by Mariners ‘keeper Analee Grove.
Central Coast started making the most of the conditions after a nervous start and took the lead a quarter of an hour into the match courtesy of a stunning free kick from Peta Trimis, that picked out the top left-hand corner.
Brooke Nunn almost produced an immediate response, blazing narrowly off target after the ball fell to her in the Mariners’ box after a sustained spell of Wellington pressure.
Anthony drew the Phoenix level shortly before the half hour mark. Lucía León won the ball from Grove in the Central Coast penalty area and then found Woods, who had her shot cleared off the line by Mariners captain Taren King. Anthony was on hand to stroke home the rebound and mark her maiden start for the club with her first A-League goal.
There were few goalscoring opportunities for the next quarter of an hour before a frantic finish to the half.
Elliott guided a threatening cross from Nunn on goal but straight at Grove in the 44th minute and the Nix came millimetres away from taking the lead moments later. León judged the wind expertly to volley a cross from Woods on goal but unfortunately for her and Wellington it struck the top of the crossbar.
Instead Central Coast snatched the halftime lead in the second minute of first half stoppage time when Tamar Levin slipped in behind the Nix defence and shot past Esson.
Elliott came close early in the second half, rattling the left stanchion with a long-range effort.
She dragged another shot wide of the left-hand post 10 minutes later after Ellie Walker had blazed over the bar from distance.
Priestman made a double substitution soon after Elliott’s second shot bringing on Pijnenburg and Emma Main for León and Anthony respectively.
The Phoenix struggled to make the most of the conditions and test Grove in the second half with Nunn slicing a shot from the right edge of the box well off target in the 65th minute.
Pia Vlok and Main both registered shots on goal soon after but neither of them troubled the Mariners ‘keeper.
Nunn was also on target in the 78th minute but Grove made a comfortable save.
The Nix’s last opportunity came in the first minute of stoppage time from a left-wing corner, but Main headed high and wide of goal as Central Coast held on to claim all three points.
The Wellington Phoenix have little time to dwell on the defeat as they’re back in action against Victory in Melbourne on Friday night.
Wellington Phoenix: 1. Victoria ESSON (gk), 4. Mackenzie BARRY (c), 5. Ellie WALKER, 11. Manaia ELLIOTT (21. Lara WALL 82nd), 14. Lucía LEÓN (32. Emma PIJNENBURG 59th), 15. Daisy BRAZENDALE, 16. Marisa VAN DER MEER, 23. Brooke NUNN (27. Zoe BENSON 87th), 24. Pia VLOK, 30. Mackenzie ANTHONY (20. Emma MAIN 59th), 31. Makala WOODS.
Unused substitutes: 22. Aimee DANIELI (gk), 3. Tiana JABER.
Central Coast Mariners: 15. Analee GROVE (gk), 3. Elizabeth BARWICK-GREY, 5. Annabel MARTIN, 6. Isabel GOMEZ, 7. Avaani PRAKASH (21. Eliza FAMILTON 66th), 9. Millie FARROW (16. Tess QUILLIGAN 75th), 10. Tamar LEVIN (12. Tiana FULLER 66th), 14. Greta KRASZULA, 18. Taren KING (c), 22. Peta TRIMIS, 23. Lorena BAUMANN.
Unused substitutes: 30. Sophia VARLEY (gk), 4. Baxter THEW, 13. Kayla BUCHANAN.
Goals:
22. Peta TRIMIS (Central Coast Mariners) – 16th
30. Mackenzie ANTHONY (Wellington Phoenix) – 28th
10. Tamar LEVIN (Central Coast Mariners) – 45+2
Cards:
15. Analee GROVE (gk) (Central Coast Mariners) – yellow – 90+2
31. Makala WOODS (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 90+4
