The Wellington Phoenix have a one goal deficit to overturn in the home leg of their Ninja A-League semi-final.
The Brisbane Roar have beaten the Phoenix 2-1 at Spencer Park in Brisbane, fighting back after Grace Jale had put the Nix in front inside two minutes.
The Roar equalised little over 10 minutes later and took the lead in the 72nd minute.
The two sides will meet again next Sunday, but this time in front of an expected record crowd at Porirua Park.
Phoenix head coach Bev Priestman was frustrated with the performance, but is excited to see the response from her team next week.
“It was a difficult game as we expected,” Priestman said post-match. “We played a little bit into the way Brisbane played.
“The early part of the game we did a really good job…but at the end of the day we switched off in moments and that’s what happens at the highest level against a good team.
“But now this is why we chose to go home. We get to go home to our loyal fans, Porirua Park is going to be bouncing and at the end of the day it’s a one goal deficit. An early goal in that game and the game’s back on and we’re at home.
“Now you learn a lot about people and players. The big players and the best teams now respond and what I’ve seen from this incredible group all season…is people respond to adversity and it’s an opportunity to step up now and take our game and us home to our fans.”
Priestman can’t wait for Sunday’s return leg.
“We spoke about when I took this project on around creating a moment for Wellington, for New Zealand where the country can stop.
“We get that opportunity, that’s the exciting thing. We get the opportunity to go home and reward their loyalty.
“I’m super excited…to come home and we’ve got the opportunity to put it right.”
Bev Priestman made one change to the XI which started their final round match against Adelaide United a month ago with American striker Mackenzie Anthony starting in place of young Football Ferns forward Pia Vlok, who was injured on international duty.
Vlok was cleared to take her place amongst the substitutes alongside fit-again Football Ferns fullback Lara Wall and New Zealand age-group international Mikaela Bangalan, who was promoted from the academy during the week.
The Phoenix made the best possible start with Jale heading home their first corner of the match inside two minutes. It came after the Nix had threatened from a free kick inside 60 seconds.
Makala Woods struck the right-hand post a couple of minutes after Wellington took the lead and then Lucía León headed narrowly wide of the left-hand post.
The Roar grew into the match after their shaky start. Captain Mackenzie Barry produced an important block to deny Dutch midfielder Bente Jansen, who entered the match as an early replacement for the injured Ruby Cuthbert.
Brisbane equalised from the resulting corner, their first of the match, with their captain Momo Hayashi producing a thumping header from six yards out.
Vic Esson slapped away a dangerous left-wing cross soon after before Jale cleared the danger.
Anthony had a couple of opportunities to restore Wellington’s lead midway through the first half. She deflected a left-wing cross on target but straight at Chloe Lincoln in Brisbane’s goal and moments later blazed a shot narrowly wide of the left post after pouncing on a wayward pass from Lincoln.
Esson made two good saves either side of the half hour mark to prevent the Roar from going ahead. She pushed away a long-range free kick from Hayashi and an acrobatic volley from Ashlyn Miller.
Ellie Walker also produced a crucial goal-line clearance in the 41st minute as Brisbane looked to snatch the halftime lead.
Anthony had the final chance of the first half when she found a bit of space on the edge of the penalty area, but her shot was straight at Lincoln.
The Roar started the second half the better of the two sides while the Phoenix struggled to string passes together in the Brisbane half.
Esson produced a top class save in the 54th minute to deny Jansen after the Dutchwoman slipped in behind the Phoenix defence.
Matildas midfielder Tameka Yallop also entered the contest early in the second half and struck a curling effort straight at Esson with one of her first involvements. Esson snuffed out another opportunity for Yallop soon after.
The Football Fern was by far the busier of the two ‘keepers. Esson backtracked in time to keep out a speculative long-range effort from Miller in the 66th minute but there was nothing she could do to stop the Roar taking the lead half a dozen minutes later.
A mishit defensive header fell to the chest of Brisbane striker Daisy Brown who slotted home from eight yards out.
Vlok and Wall replaced, an uncharacteristically quiet, Brooke Nunn and Anthony respectively before the Roar went ahead and Macey Fraser entered the game for Emma Pijnenburg in the 89th minute but the changes had limited effect.
The Nix were unable to threaten Lincoln’s goal in the second half and Brisbane deservedly held on to take a one goal advantage into the second leg.
There are still general admission tickets available with the club hoping for a 6000-strong sell-out.
Wellington Phoenix: 1. Victoria ESSON (gk), 4. Mackenzie BARRY (c), 5. Ellie WALKER, 7. Grace JALE, 11. Manaia ELLIOTT, 14. Lucía LEÓN (29. Mikaela BANGALAN 57th), 16. Marisa VAN DER MEER, 23. Brooke NUNN (24. Pia VLOK 69th), 30. Mackenzie ANTHONY (21. Lara WALL 69th), 31. Makala WOODS, 32. Emma PIJNENBURG (8. Macey FRASER 89th).
Unused substitutes: 22. Aimee DANIELI (gk), 3. Tiana JABER, 15. Daisy BRAZENDALE.
Brisbane Roar: 1. Chloe LINCOLN (gk), 2. Angela BEARD, 3. Daisy BROWN (15. Kiera MEYERS 90+4), 4. Kijah STEPHENSON (13. Tameka YALLOP 57th), 5. Aimee MEDWIN, 6. Ruby CUTHBERT (17. Bente JANSEN 8th), 7. Momo HAYASHI (c), 8. Josie STUDER, 11. Marianna SEIDL, 27. Ashlyn MILLER, 32. Alicia WOODS.
Unused substitutes: 12. Tahlia FRANCO (gk), 14. Zara KRUGER, 18. Amali KINSELLA, 22. Ava PIAZZA.
Goals:
7. Grace JALE (Wellington Phoenix) – 2nd
7. Momo HAYASHI (Brisbane Roar) – 14th
3. Daisy BROWN (Brisbane Roar) – 72nd
