The Wellington Phoenix have succumbed to their sixth one-goal defeat of the 2024-25 Ninja A-League.
The Phoenix have been beaten 1-0 by Brisbane Roar in their round 14 match at Perry Park in Brisbane, despite having the better of much of the match.
The Nix had the majority of possession, played the lion’s share of the game in the Roar’s half and had 22 shots to Brisbane’s seven.
But Wellington couldn’t find the back of the net and conceded a contentious goal from a corner in the 62nd minute.
Phoenix head coach Paul Temple felt his side deserved more.
“I am really proud of the team,” Temple said post-match. “I thought the performance was good. We came to a really tough place and we played really well and essentially dominated most of the game.
“Defensively we were good and in possession it was really us creating all of the momentum and chances.
“It’s just a shame that we’ve walked off without any points, but if we play like that for the rest of the nine games of the season then we’re going to win a lot more games.”
And Temple believes the Roar’s goal shouldn’t have stood.
“When you look at the replay it is a very, very clear foul on the goalkeeper.
“Everyone knows it’s a foul. The only people that don’t think it’s a foul are the officials.
“There’s a sense of injustice and it’s really difficult to take when those things ultimately end up deciding the game.
“It was a sucker punch and it took the wind out of our sails and changed the momentum of the game, [and] gives them momentum, belief and something to hang on to.
The result means the Phoenix remain eighth and are now three points adrift of the top six.
Paul Temple made one change to the XI which started last Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Central Coast with young midfielder Daisy Brazendale returning in place of English striker Olivia Fergusson. Versatile midfielder Amelia Abbott was named on the bench for the first time following her late arrival from the University of Texas.
The Phoenix got off to an impressive start, dominating possession and camping themselves inside the Brisbane half.
But it was the Roar who registered the first shot of the match in the ninth minute when Matildas midfielder Tameka Yallop unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the area. Fortunately for the Nix, Mackenzie Barry was on hand to smother Yallop’s effort.
Yallop had Brisbane’s only other shot of the first half a handful of minutes later with an effort from wide out right, but it was comfortably claimed by Carolina Vilão in Wellington’s goal.
Her opposite Olivia Sekany was the busier of the two goalkeepers but she wasn’t really tested by the Phoenix’s shots at goal.
Alyssa Whinham had their best chances in the first quarter of an hour. She was well picked out at the top of the box by Manaia Elliott in the 12th minute but shot straight at Sekany and shortly after Whinham was well closed down in the Roar box after Lara Wall found her near the penalty spot.
The skilful midfielder had the ball at her feet in a number of promising positions and had a further three shots before halftime. One sailed narrowly over the bar while the other two were well-held by Sekany.
Grace Jale and Elliott also had opportunities to break the deadlock in the first half. Jale headed a corner narrowly wide in the 44th minute and Elliott blazed over the bar from a tight angle in stoppage time after getting in behind the Brisbane defence.
The Nix had the first two shots of the second half with Jale fizzing a shot narrowly wide of the near post in the 47th minute before Whinham sliced a left-footed shot wide of goal from just outside the box.
Roar teenager Grace Kuilamu fired a warning shot just inside the hour mark, striking the right-hand post with a thunderous effort from outside the box.
Kuilamu put Brisbane in front soon after when she nodded home from a yard out after Vilão appeared to be fouled.
Temple responded by making his first substitution, bringing on Fergusson in place of Brazendale.
Vilão kept the Phoenix in the match midway through the second half, making a great reflex save to deny Yallop one-on-one.
Temple made a triple-change with a quarter of an hour remaining with Emma Main, Mebae Tanaka and Amelia Abbott replacing Elliott, Whinham and Alivia Kelly respectively.
Moments later Jale fired a shot narrowly wide of the left post after finding some space at the top of the box.
Despite all of the Nix’s endeavour they were fortunate to not go two goals down in the 78th minute when Brisbane defender Isabela Hoyos skied her shot over the bar from six yards out following another threatening Roar corner.
Wellington had a further three shots before time added on, but none were able to test Sekany in Brisbane’s goal. Annalie Longo came closest to drawing the Phoenix level, but the Roar did well to deflect her effort from the top of the box out for a corner.
The Nix were unable to produce an equaliser in time added on as the Roar clung on to claim all three points.
The Wellington Phoenix will return home tomorrow to prepare for Saturday’s match against high-flying Melbourne Victory at Porirua Park.
Wellington Phoenix: 39. Carolina VILÃO (gk), 3. Tiana JABER, 4. Mackenzie BARRY, 5. Alivia KELLY (8. Amelia ABBOTT 75th), 6. Maya MCCUTCHEON, 7. Grace JALE, 10. Alyssa WHINHAM (14. Mebae TANAKA 75th), 11. Manaia ELLIOTT (20. Emma MAIN 75th), 15. Daisy BRAZENDALE (9. Olivia FERGUSSON 64th), 16. Annalie LONGO (c), 21. Lara WALL.
Unused substitutes: 13. Brooke NEARY (gk).
Brisbane Roar: 33. Olivia SEKANY (gk), 2. Leia VARLEY (17. Evdokia POPADINOVA 31st), 3. Deborah-Anne DE LA HARPE, 10. Grace KUILAMU (20. Tanaye MORRIS 87th), 13. Tameka YALLOP (c), 14. Zara KRUGER, 16. Chelsea BLISSETT, 18. Emily PRINGLE, 19. Laini FREIER (8. Mariel HECHER 89th), 23. Isabela HOYOS, 32. Alicia WOODS.
Unused substitutes: 1. Keeley RICHARDS (gk), 12. Tamar LEVIN.
Goals:
10. Grace KUILAMU (Brisbane Roar) – 62nd
Cards:
Alex SMITH (Brisbane Roar) – yellow – 34th
5. Alivia KELLY (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 38th
6. Maya MCCUTCHEON (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 88th
