The Wellington Phoenix have cruelly fallen to their second straight defeat to start the Ninja A-League season.
The Phoenix have been beaten 1-0 by Canberra United in their home opener at Porirua Park despite dominating much of the match.
The Nix had two thirds of possession, completed more than twice the number of passes than the visitors and had 18 shots to Canberra’s eight.
Matildas forward Michelle Heyman was the difference-maker, with the Canberra captain’s 100th goal for the club in the 11th minute separating the two sides.
Phoenix head coach Paul Temple says he’s “not worried” despite having yet to register a point two rounds into the season.
“I think we’re playing really well,” Temple told media post-match. “We’re creating so many opportunities. We’re just not taking them.
“I think we had one in the first few seconds of the second half and if that goes in the whole game changes.
“Those chances are huge, and we just have to work on that and keep practicing that and it’ll come right.”
Temple believes their luck will turn over the next 21 rounds.
“It’s still so early in the season. I really believe in the way we play and what we want to do, and it does create these opportunities.
“If we weren’t playing well and we weren’t creating chances to score than I’d be more worried and thinking right I’ve really got to change things up or do something different.
“But…we’re doing those things and it’s just a case of us putting those chances away.
“It’s really just the finishing touches for me and as soon as that happens the whole dynamic changes.”
Paul Temple made one change to the XI which started the season opening 4-2 defeat to Western United with Zoe McMeeken replacing Mebae Tanaka at wingback. English forward Olivia Fergusson was named amongst the substitutes after missing the season opener with injury.
The Phoenix had two thirds of possession in the first 45 minutes but had nothing for show for it at halftime.
Michelle Heyman put the visitors in front little over 10 minutes into the match, slotting home her milestone goal after being teed up by Maja Markovski.
The Nix’s best chances to level came midway through the first half. Manaia Elliott blazed a volley over the bar from six yards out in the 19th minute and soon after the hosts’ blew a two-on-one when Alyssa Whinham was unable to thread a pass through to Grace Jale, who would have been through on goal.
Carolina Vilão ensured Wellington went to the break just a goal down when she bravely snuffed out an opportunity for Aideen Keane by diving at the feet of the Canberra winger. Vilão received some medical attention and was able to play on initially, but had to be replaced by Aimee Danieli at halftime.
The Phoenix were threatening in the second half and they had a gilt-edged chance to equalise just seconds after the restart, but Elliott sliced her shot wide of the near post.
Canberra goalkeeper Sally James made a sharp save in the 52nd to deny Grace Jale’s header from a corner and soon after James did well to get her body behind a powerful shot from Emma Main.
The Nix came within inches of drawing level shortly before the hour mark when Alyssa Whinham struck the right post after finding a bit of space at the top of the box.
Whinham was in the thick of the action for Wellington and had a great opportunity in the 65th minute after Canberra were unable to deal with a piercing pass from Jale. Unfortunately for the attacking midfielder and the Phoenix, Whinham put her volley over the bar.
Temple made his first tactical substitutions with a quarter of an hour remaining, bringing on Mebae Tanaka and Lara Wall on for Alyssa Winham and Zoe McMeeken respectively. Olivia Fergusson came on soon after to make her Nix and A-League debut in place of Manaia Elliott, who’s last involvement was to flick on a right-wing cross from Tiana Jaber that Sally James did well to turn around her near post.
From the resulting Wellington corner Wall blazed a shot narrowly over the bar after the ball fell to her in a bit of space at the top of the box.
The Phoenix bench was cleared in the 82nd minute, when Daisy Brazendale replaced Rebecca Lake.
The Nix came close to equalising in the second minute of stoppage time when James produced another great save to deny Maya McCutcheon’s header from a corner.
Fergusson was also brought down in the Canberra box moments later but her penalty claims were waved away by referee Beth Rattray.
Wellington continued to push for an equaliser but Canberra held on to take all three points from the capital clash.
The Wellington Phoenix are back on the road in round three with a match against the Newcastle Jets in Maitland next Sunday.
Wellington Phoenix: 39. Carolina VILÃO (gk) (22. Aimee DANIELI (gk) 46th), 2. Zoe MCMEEKEN (21. Lara WALL 75th), 3. Tiana JABER, 4. Mackenzie BARRY, 6. Maya MCCUTCHEON, 7. Grace JALE, 10. Alyssa WHINHAM (14. Mebae TANAKA 75th), 11. Manaia ELLIOTT (9. Olivia FERGUSSON 79th), 16. Annalie LONGO (c), 20. Emma MAIN, 23. Rebecca LAKE (15. Daisy BRAZENDALE 82nd).
Canberra United: 1. Sally JAMES (gk), 2. Alex MCKENZIE, 3. Liz ANTON, 10. Mary STANIC-FLOODY (7. Jynaya DOS SANTOS 77th), 11. Emma ROBERS (4. Holly MURRAY 72nd), 12. Hayley TAYLOR-YOUNG, 13. Sofia CHRISTOPHERSON, 17. Maja MARKOVSKI (28. Tegan BERTOLISSIO (67th), 21. Aideen KEANE (9. Ruby NATHAN 46th), 23. Michelle HEYMAN (c), 25. Darcey MALONE.
Unused substitutes: 18. Coco MAJSTOROVIC (gk).
Goals:
23. Michelle HEYMAN (Canberra United) – 11th
Cards:
10. Mary STANIC-FLOODY (Canberra United) – yellow – 74th
9. Olivia FERGUSSON (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 90+7
