The Wellington Phoenix women have finished their record-breaking season as runners-up.
The Phoenix have been beaten 3-1 by Melbourne Victory in the Ninja A-League grand final at AAMI Park in Melbourne, after trailing 2-0 at halftime.
Holly McNamara scored both of City’s first half goals before fellow Matilda Leticia McKenna added a third early in the second half.
Makala Woods pulled a goal back for the Nix moments later and they threatened a comeback but ultimately weren’t able to breach the premiers’ defence again.
Phoenix head coach Bev Priestman felt they didn’t give the best account of themselves in the first half.
“When you’re not at your best a team like City can punish you,” Priestman told media post-match. “They’ve got the players [and] some of them goals were great goals.
“What I am proud of is in the second half we gave a much better account of ourselves. We never gave up, which I think is important, but it wasn’t our best night.
“To beat a City with their experience in a grand final you have to be at your best and we weren’t.
“But what I would say is it doesn’t define our season. I think that’s the most important thing. The players, the staff have to hold their heads high.”
Priestman believes her team will be better for the experience of playing in a grand final.
“City have been here, they’ve lost some finals, and you bottle this up and you come back stronger next year.
“This leaves a little bit on us and in many ways it might help us next year to push to another level.
“I’ve got an ambitious club and owner, who I’ve just talked to about improving for next season.
“These are the moments that make players [and] make clubs depending on how your respond.
“I’ve got no doubt that that dressing room will respond in the right way and push on.
“I will do everything in my power to make sure we are back here next season.
“We come back and this grand final is no longer new to this group, we can cope with that occasion and hopefully give a better account of ourselves.”
Bev Priestman named the same XI and bench which started the second leg of the semi-final against Brisbane Roar on Sunday.
There was a major flashpoint just four minutes into the match when City appealed for a penalty after Bryleeh Henry went down in the Phoenix penalty area after getting in behind the Wellington defence.
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was called upon for the first time in competition history and upheld referee Isabella Mossin’s decision to not award a spot kick.
City had the better of the early running and Emma Pijnenburg produced an important block a few minutes later to prevent McKenna from testing Victoria Esson in the Nix goal.
Manaia Elliott had the Phoenix’s first shot of note shortly before the 15 minute mark, blazing over from distance at the end of a promising attack.
City midfielder Leah Davidson hooked a shot wide soon after as the premiers found space down the right flank.
Brooke Nunn started coming into the contest after the opening quarter of an hour. She delivered an enticing ball into the box that City goalkeeper Malena Mieres was first to before leading a Wellington counterattack that finished with Lucía León skying her shot over the bar
The hosts though looked more likely to break the deadlock. Ellie Walker cleared a goal-bound header in the 19th minute and McNamara flicked a right-wing cross narrowly wide of goal soon after.
McKenna rattled the crossbar from a free kick a half an hour into the grand final before the Phoenix had their best spell of the first half.
Pia Vlok had a shot blocked and deflect over the bar after being picked out in the box by Nunn and moments later Grace Jale sliced a shot wide after the Nix threatened from a right wing corner.
City found the back of the net in the 37th minute but it was quickly flagged for offside. VAR upheld the assistant referee’s decision.
Esson made a sharp save at her near post three minutes later to deny Aideen Keane who got a bit of fortune to break through on goal.
McNamara scored a sublime goal to break the deadlock, with the Matildas forward curling in a shot from the top left corner of the Wellington penalty area.
She doubled the lead less than two minutes later in more regulation fashion, beating the offside trap and then slotting past Esson.
The Phoenix had the final three shots of the first half but two were over the bar and the third was straight at Mieres as City went to halftime with a two goal cushion.
Priestman made a change at the interval, bringing Mackenzie Anthony on in place of León.
Anthony barely had a touch before McKenna extended the hosts’ lead, kissing a shot in off the left-hand post after being given too much space outside the Wellington box.
Woods gave the Nix a lifeline three minutes later, tapping home from close-range after Mieres was unable to deal with Anthony’s header.
Macey Fraser was brought on after Wellington’s goal, replacing Vlok.
Anthony was having a big impact and she headed a shot-come-cross from Nunn wide of goal in the 55th minute.
Moments later Mieres produced a good reflex save to deny Woods a second, this time from a corner as the Phoenix were enjoying their best period of the match.
Lara Wall entered the game soon after, replacing Elliott.
Midway through the second half Anthony headed a searching ball forward from Jale wide of goal before Woods had a speculative effort from distance that sailed over the bar.
Fraser struck the crossbar with a free kick from wide out in the 77th minute before Ellie Walker headed a corner over the bar.
The Phoenix continued to push for a second goal but City defended resolutely and held on to secure a record-equalling fifth championship.
The Wellington Phoenix will fly home early on Sunday morning and will celebrate their season with the club’s fans at Fraser Park in the afternoon.
Wellington Phoenix: 1. Victoria ESSON (gk), 4. Mackenzie BARRY (c), 5. Ellie WALKER, 7. Grace JALE, 11. Manaia ELLIOTT (21. Lara WALL 65th), 14. Lucía LEÓN (30. Mackenzie ANTHONY 46th), 16. Marisa VAN DER MEER, 23. Brooke NUNN, 24. Pia VLOK (8. Macey FRASER 53rd), 31. Makala WOODS, 32. Emma PIJNENBURG.
Unused substitutes: 22. Aimee DANIELI (gk), 3. Tiana JABER, 15. Daisy BRAZENDALE, 27. Zoe BENSON.
Melbourne City: 24. Malena MIERES (gk), 3. Danielle TURNER, 5. Taylor OTTO, 6. Leticia MCKENNA (14. Laura HUGHES 78th), 9. Holly MCNAMARA (11. Deven JACKSON 90+2), 12. Shelby MCMAHON, 13. Rebekah STOTT (c), 16. Karly ROESTBAKKEN (8. Alexia APOSTOLAKIS 86th), 18. Leah DAVIDSON, 21. Aideen KEANE, 22. Bryleeh HENRY.
Unused substitutes: 23. Melissa BARBIERI (gk), 2. Ellie WILSON, 7. Danella BUTRUS, 20. Caitlin KARIC.
Goals:
9. Holly MCNAMARA (Melbourne City) – 41st & 43rd
6. Leticia MCKENNA (Melbourne City) – 49th
31. Makala WOODS (Wellington Phoenix) – 52nd
Cards:
5. Ellie WALKER (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 72nd
