The Wellington Phoenix have fallen their fourth straight one goal defeat in Australia.
The Phoenix have been beaten 2-1 by Perth Glory on a hot afternoon at the Sam Kerr Football Centre in Perth.
An unfortunate Nix own goal midway through the second half was ultimately the difference after the two sides were locked at 1-1 at halftime.
The result leaves Wellington eighth on the ladder, four points adrift of the top six with seven matches remaining.
Phoenix head coach Paul Temple was at a lost to explain his side’s latest defeat on their travels.
“Once again we didn’t perform on the road,” Temple said media post-match. “We’ve tried so many different approaches and we’ve tried different tactics and strategies, but so far the solution hasn’t been there.
“That’s my responsibility as the head coach. I have to find a solution for these poor away performances.
“We have to find a way to ‘be us’ when we’re in the heat of the battle. We have the quality but we’re not using it in the moments we need it.”
Despite the result, Temple reserved special praise for fullback Zoe McMeeken who became the third player to play 50 A-League matches for the Phoenix women.
“Clubs are built on players like Zoe, who stay the course and give everything when they wear the shirt.
“It’s such a shame we couldn’t celebrate that milestone with a win but it doesn’t take away her individual achievement.”
Paul Temple made one change to the XI which started last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory, with Daisy Brazendale returning in midfield in place of Alyssa Whinham (concussion). McMeeken was reinstated to the bench.
It remained scoreless at the first cooling break midway through the first half, but it could have quite easily been 1-1.
Perth midfielder Isobel Dalton rattled the crossbar with a sliding shot in the 14th minute and moments later Phoenix striker Olivia Fergusson dragged a gilt-edged chance wide after captain Annalie Longo slipped her through on goal.
Both goalkeepers were also called into action in the opening quarter of an hour, with Carolina Vilão turning away a shot from former Nix forward Kelli Brown before Miranda Templeman held onto a curling left-footed effort from Manaia Elliott.
The Glory took the lead half an hour into the match with Dalton tucking her shot inside the right post after Perth pounced on a wayward clearance from Vilão.
Perth struck the crossbar a second time in the 39th minute. This time it was Catilin Doeglas with a shot from the edge of the box that skimmed off the woodwork.
Wellington finished the first half strongly.
Elliott forced another save from Templeman in the 41st minute after Maya McCutcheon had a powerful shot blocked outside the box.
Fergusson then drew the Phoenix level in the first minute of stoppage time, making no mistake this time after again being slipped through on goal by another perfectly weighted Longo through ball.
Elliott came within an inch or so of giving the Nix the lead with the final kick of the first half. Unfortunately for her and Wellington the winger’s powerful shot from the edge of the Perth penalty area struck the top of the crossbar.
Glory goalkeeper Miranda Templeman almost gifted the Phoenix their second three minutes into the second half when she gave away possession in her penalty area, but she made amends by partially saving Fergusson’s shot and Perth cleared the rebound.
The Nix carried on where they left off before halftime and Fergusson shot over the bar in the 54th minute.
Wellington came close to going ahead from a right-wing corner soon after but the Glory managed to scramble clear.
The Phoenix had goal-line clearance of their own on the hour mark, with Fergusson in the right spot at the right time to prevent Perth from taking a 2-1 lead.
Temple made a double change midway through the half, bringing on Zoe McMeeken, for her 50th A-League appearance, and Emma Main in replace of Elliott and Brazendale respectively.
The Glory did take the lead soon after the second cooling break with Tiana Jaber unfortunately turning the ball into her own net as she attempted to clear a Perth attack.
The hosts came close to putting the game out of reach in the 78th minute when their captain Onyinyechi Zogg struck the right post after the Nix struggled to clear a free-kick.
Moments later Temple made a further attacking substitution, bringing on young playmaker Ela Jerez in place of Jaber.
Despite the extra numbers up front, the Phoenix struggled to create chances with the Glory defending doggedly.
Wellington’s best opportunity to equalise came in the fourth minute of time added on when Lara Wall delivered a threatening left-wing cross. Fergusson was first to the cross but unfortunately for the Nix headed narrowly wide of goal.
Perth held on to claim all three points and left the Phoenix empty-handed.
The Ninja A-League will now break for international football with Annalie Longo, Grace Jale, Mackenzie Barry and Manaia Elliott to represent the Football Ferns in Costa Rica, while Tiana Jaber plays in a four nation tournament for Lebanon in Nepal.
The Wellington Phoenix will be back in action on Sunday, March 2 against Adelaide United at Porirua Park.
Wellington Phoenix: 39. Carolina VILÃO (gk), 3. Tiana JABER (17. Ela JEREZ 79th), 4. Mackenzie BARRY, 5. Alivia KELLY, 6. Maya MCCUTCHEON, 7. Grace JALE, 9. Olivia FERGUSSON, 11. Manaia ELLIOTT (2. Zoe MCMEEKEN 66th), 15. Daisy BRAZENDALE (20. Emma MAIN 66th), 16. Annalie LONGO (c), 21. Lara WALL.
Unused substitutes: 13. Brooke NEARY (gk), 8. Amelia ABBOTT.
Perth Glory: 21. Miranda TEMPLEMAN (gk), 5. Grace JOHNSTON, 6. Tijan MCKENNA, 7. Megan WYNNE (14. Miku SUNAGA 90+4), 11. Natalie TATHEM, 12. Caitlin DOEGLAS (20. Ella ABDUL MASSIH 64th), 13. Naomi THOMAS-CHINNAMA, 19. Sarah O’DONOGHUE (27. Charli WAINWRIGHT 72nd), 23. Isobel DALTON, 29. Onyinyechi ZOGG (c), 44. Kelli BROWN (17. Morgan ROBERTS 90+4).
Unused substitutes: 30. Jessica SKINNER (gk).
Goals:
23. Isobel DALTON (Perth Glory) – 31st
9. Olivia FERGUSSON (Wellington Phoenix) – 45+1
3. Tiana JABER (Wellington Phoenix) – 71st og
Cards:
9. Olivia FERGUSSON (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 82nd
