The Wellington Phoenix have all but secured a place in the Ninja A-League finals for the first time.
The Phoenix have come back from conceding a goal in the opening five minutes to beat Sydney FC 3-1 at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney.
Young forward Pia Vlok drew the Nix level on her return from concussion before defender Marisa van der Meer and wingback Brooke Nunn scored in the second half to secure Wellington all three points.
The team’s record-equalling ninth win of the season lifts the Phoenix to second on the table and virtually clinches a place in the top six.
It also takes their points tally to 31 from 17 matches, three more than their previous best return in the 2023-24 campaign, which was from 22 matches.
Head coach Bev Priestman described the performance as “a bit of a mixed bag”.
“At the end of the day to score three goals [and] get three points on the road against what I felt was a much improved Sydney side…I’ve got to be happy with the outcome,” Priestman said post-match.
“Did we make it a painful process and got in our own way? I think so, but…I think that’s the first time we’ve come back from going a goal down to getting three points.
“At the end of the day good teams can do that.”
The Nix are just three points behind leaders Melbourne City and have a game in hand, but Priestman hasn’t turned her attentions to the premiership race.
“I think we turn our attention to the next game. I think Central Coast are a great team.
“For us it’s just take the three points in front of us, or take a point in front of us, not get too far ahead, not worrying about the table [and] just focussing on us.”
Bev Priestman made one change to the XI which started Saturday’s 3-0 win over Brisbane Roar with Vlok returning from concussion in place of American striker Mackenzie Anthony, who was named amongst the substitutes.
The Phoenix found themselves a goal down in the third minute when Sydney scored from their first attack. Caley Tallon-Henniker eventually got the better of van der Meer before curling a left-footed shot into the far corner of Wellington’s goal.
Van der Meer had a chance for a near immediate response but headed a left wing corner wide of goal from six yards out.
Emma Pijnenburg also shot narrowly wide in the seventh minute after the Sky Blues were unable to deal with a right wing short corner.
Sydney threatened to double their lead in the 10th minute when Amber Luchtmeijer got in behind the Nix defence and rounded Victoria Esson, but Mackenzie Barry produced a goal-saving covering challenge to deny Luchtmeijer.
Vlok drew the Phoenix level a couple of minutes later. The young Football Fern was slipped into the box by Nunn and then slotted past Heather Hinz in Sydney’s goal.
The Sky Blues had a chance to restore their lead almost immediately from the restart when Luchtmeijer was again one-on-one with Esson, but this time the Nix ‘keeper made a good save to deny her.
After an end-to-end opening quarter of an hour, the match settled down somewhat.
Grace Jale had a go from distance midway through the first half and it rose marginally over the top right corner.
Moments later van der Meer produced a pivotal goal-line block to deny the ever dangerous Luchtmeijer, who again rounded Esson after getting in behind the Wellington defence.
Sydney’s keeper produced a crucial last-ditch challenge of her own on the half hour mark to dispossess Vlok after she burst into the penalty area.
The Phoenix finished the half the better of the two sides, with Nunn causing the Sky Blues problems with two crosses. Hinz acrobatically intercepted the first on the edge of the six yard box to deny Makala Woods an opportunity in the 42nd minute, while Manaia Elliott headed the second narrowly wide of the left hand post in time added on.
The Nix continued to have the upper hand at the start of the second half but had nothing to show for it through the first 14 minutes so Priestman made a double substitution, bringing on Zoe Benson and Anthony in place of Lucía León and Woods respectively.
The changes appeared to reap an immediate reward with Benson expertly finding the back of the net with one of her first touches. But the goal wasn’t awarded as she was flagged for offside.
It didn’t take much longer for Wellington to get their reward. Van der Meer put the Phoenix in front in the 64th minute, heading home a right wing corner from six yards out.
Hinz made a spectacular save soon after to keep out a rocket of a shot from Vlok, who unleashed from the edge of the area. Ellie Walker headed the resulting corner over the bar.
The American was comfortably the busier of the two ‘keepers in the second half. She kept out a flick on from Benson at her near post in the 73rd minute but was powerless to stop the Nix’s third a couple of minutes later.
Nunn expertly brought down a cross field ball from Vlok, beat her defender in the penalty area and drove her shot past Hinz and into the back of the net.
Anthony and Vlok called the Sydney ‘keeper into action another couple of times before the fulltime whistle blew to confirm the Phoenix’s come-from-behind win.
The Wellington Phoenix will remain in New South Wales as they’re back in action against Central Coast Mariners in their rescheduled fifth round match in Gosford on Wednesday night.
Wellington Phoenix: 1. Victoria ESSON (gk), 4. Mackenzie BARRY (c), 5. Ellie WALKER, 7. Grace JALE, 11. Manaia ELLIOTT (3. Tiana JABER 78th), 14. Lucía LEÓN (27. Zoe BENSON 59th), 16. Marisa VAN DER MEER, 23. Brooke NUNN, 24. Pia VLOK, 31. Makala WOODS (30. Mackenzie ANTHONY 59th), 32. Emma PIJNENBURG (15. Daisy BRAZENDALE 68th).
Unused substitutes: 22. Aimee DANIELI (gk), 28. Grace BARTLETT.
Sydney FC: 1. Heather HINZ (gk), 2. Madison AYSON, 4. Tori TUMETH, 7. Amelia CASSAR (22. Claudia VALLETTA 46th), 9. Jodi ULKEKUL (6. Shay HOLLMAN 71st), 14. Abbey LEMON, 15. Mackenzie HAWKESBY (c), 17. Claire CORBETT, 18. Amber LUCHTMEIJER, 23. Rubi SULLIVAN (5. Kirsty FENTON 84th), 24. Caley TALLON-HENNIKER (19. Skye HALMARICK 64th).
Unused substitutes: 29. Alyse OPPEDISANO (gk), 30. Tiahna ROBERTSON (gk).
Goals:
24. Caley TALLON-HENNIKER (Sydney FC) – 3rd
24. Pia VLOK (Wellington Phoenix) – 12th
16. Marisa VAN DER MEER (Wellington Phoenix) – 64th
23. Brooke NUNN (Wellington Phoenix) – 75th
