The Wellington Phoenix have leapt up the Ninja A-League ladder after knocking over the competition’s form team.
The Phoenix have beaten Adelaide United, who were unbeaten in their past five matches, 3-1 at Porirua Park in Wellington, thanks to a brace from Brooke Nunn and Makala Woods’ 15th minute opener.
The result sees Wellington rise from ninth to second on an incredibly congested table, at least temporarily, and with at least a game in hand over seven of the teams below them.
It was an efficient showing from the Nix, who scored from their three shots on target.
Phoenix head coach Bev Priestman was over the moon with the result, if not the performance.
“I’m proud of the group,” Priestman said. “We’ve had a lot of ups and downs and a lot of bumps along the way this season, and today we were clinical.
“It wasn’t a great performance. In the first half I was frustrated. I thought we were leggy and it was flat.
“But we were clinical and that is the difference maybe this season.
“Really proud of the group, pleased with where we’re at but we’ve got to keep pushing forward now.”
Priestman has given little notice to the ladder.
“I haven’t spoken about the table, obviously I look at it, but I just think we’ve got to worry about us.
“It’s about being the best version of us for the next how many games are left. Because I think the best version of us will make our way where we need to be, I’m sure of that.
“We have another gear that we can hit now and…be a better version of us than they are of them and it’ll come up on the table.”
Bev Priestman made one change to the XI which started last week’s 2-0 win over Canberra United with 17-year-old Pia Vlok replacing Emma Main, who was ruled out with illness. New American striker Mackenzie Anthony was named as a substitute having obtained her work visas.
Adelaide had the first couple of shots at goal, in the second minute from a free kick and 10 minutes later from the edge of the Phoenix penalty area, but both efforts were comfortably held by Nix ‘keeper Vic Esson.
Wellington took the lead inside a quarter an hour from one of their first forays forward. Lucía León got the end of a well-weighted ball from Grace Jale to get in behind the Reds’ defence and then squared the ball to Woods, who managed to turn it into the back of the net despite the pass slightly being behind her.
The American turned provider three minutes later to double the Phoenix’s advantage, slipping a slide rule pass through to Nunn, who rounded the keeper and slotted home.
Woods was a constant threat and shot narrowly off target midway through the first half after a powerful run into the Adelaide penalty area.
She also flashed a cross through the visitors’ box six minutes out from halftime, but it was out of reach of a leaping Nunn at the back post.
Young Adelaide goalkeeper Ilona Melegh had to be brave to snuff out another opportunity for the Nix late in the half, diving at the feet of Lara Wall a split second ahead of the Wellington wingback to ensure it remained 2-0 at the interval.
The Phoenix continued to look the more threatening side after the break, despite the visitors having more of the ball. Emma Pijnenburg shot narrowly over the bar from the edge of the Adelaide penalty area after winning possession high up the pitch before Wall saw her left-wing cross land on the crossbar.
Pijnenburg and Wall were the first players to be substituted 10 minutes into the second half, with Daisy Brazendale and Manaia Elliott coming on in their place. It was Elliott’s 50th appearance for the Nix, becoming just the fifth player to reach the milestone for the club.
Woods and Jale had good opportunities to test Melegh shortly before the hour mark, but neither was able to keep their shots on target.
Priestman made her third substitution soon after, bringing on Zoe Benson in place of León.
There was little goalmouth action for either side for the next quarter of an hour before Anthony was brought on for her Phoenix debut in place of Woods, who had started to cramp.
Nunn tried to catch Melegh out at her near post five minutes from fulltime but she struck the side-netting. Moments later Benson had a go from distance, but it sailed over Adelaide’s goal.
Nunn made no mistake a minute later to make it 3-0. She picked out the left corner of the Reds’ goal with a cracking strike from the edge of the penalty area.
Adelaide pulled a goal back almost straight from the kick off with substitute Isabel Hodgson looping a volley over Esson.
The Nix shut down any thoughts of a late comeback and professionally saw out the remaining minutes to claim all three points.
The Wellington Phoenix will quickly turn their attentions to next Sunday’s match against the Jets in Newcastle.
Wellington Phoenix: 1. Victoria ESSON (gk), 4. Mackenzie BARRY (c), 5. Ellie WALKER, 7. Grace JALE, 14. Lucía LEÓN (27. Zoe BENSON 62nd), 16. Marisa VAN DER MEER, 21. Lara WALL (11. Manaia ELLIOTT 55th), 23. Brooke NUNN, 24. Pia VLOK, 31. Makala WOODS (30. Mackenzie ANTHONY 78th), 32. Emma PIJNENBURG (15. Daisy BRAZENDALE 55th).
Unused substitutes: 22. Aimee DANIELI (gk), 28. Grace BARTLETT.
Adelaide United: 30. Ilona MELEGH (gk), 2. Emily HOGGSON, 3. Matilda MCNAMARA, 5. Sarah MORGAN (9. Paige ZOIS 58th), 6. Melissa TARANTO, 10. Chelsie DAWBER (11. Isabel HODGSON 62nd), 13. Ella TONKIN (c), 15. Adriana TARANTO (8. Emily CONDON 58th) 17. Zoe TOLLAND, 22. Erin HEALY (7. Emilia MAKRIS 72nd), 23. Fiona WORTS (12. Carina ROSSI 58th).
Unused substitutes: 21. Claudia JENKINS (gk).
Goals:
31. Makala WOODS (Wellington Phoenix) – 15th
23. Brooke NUNN (Wellington Phoenix) – 18th & 86th
11. Isabel HODGSON (Adelaide United) – 87th
Cards:
16. Marisa VAN DER MEER (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 1st
