The Wellington Phoenix’s playoff hopes have been dealt a hammer blow following a 1-0 loss at Porirua Park to undefeated Melbourne City.
Carolina Vilão’s second penalty save of the season was not enough to prevent a second straight defeat at home, leaving the Nix four points shy of a playoff spot with two games remaining.
Phoenix head coach Paul Temple was disappointed with the result, but was full of praise for the visiting side.
“We did put up a brave fight,” he told media post-match. “We gave a lot to the game.
“For large parts we did frustrate them. When they go 1-0 up, that changes your game plan. You’ve got to take more risks, be on the front foot.
“You can see why they’re top of the league and unbeaten. They’ve got a bit of everything.
“We knew they were going to dominate the ball, but they also dominated physically which you perhaps don’t expect. They’re mentality monsters, and that’s why they’re top.”
However, he thought the team should have been able to prevent Holly McNamara’s winning goal.
“It’s those moments. Generally speaking, we dealt with her pretty well. We controlled the spaces she likes to run into.
“It just shows the quality of the players, she’s had one opportunity in the half and got the space well, finished it brilliantly.
“From our point of view it’s disappointing.”
And Temple felt as though Vilão denying McNamara from the spot was justice being served after a contentious penalty decision.
“We looked at the replay, and didn’t think it was a penalty.
“It’s the second tough one we’ve had at Porirua Park.
“Obviously it was really good in terms of Carolina making a great save and keeping us in it.”
While the Phoenix have not been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, only a specific set of results will see them climb into the top six, starting with a win at Canberra in two weeks time.
“It’s all or nothing now. We haven’t got any other choices.
“If we don’t go to Canberra and get three points, we’re going to be out of the race.
“It’s everything on the line, we know what’s expected of us now. We may need some other results to go our way.
“We’ve just got to try and make it really interesting on the last day.”
Paul Temple made two changes to the side that lost to Central Coast Mariners last week, bringing in Tiana Jaber and Emma Main to replace Alyssa Whinham and Zoe McMeeken.
The Nix had the first sight of goal, Olivia Fergusson unable to guide her header on target after Annalie Longo and Emma Main had cleverly linked up down the right.
City were able to dominate territory without creating regular chances, with the Phoenix happy to hit them on the counter attack.
Rebekah Stott’s ambitious effort flew over the bar in the 20th minute before Leah Davidson’s shot flew wide when she was well positioned.
And it was the away side who took the lead 35 minutes in, Holly McNamara pouncing on a dangerous delivery from Lourdes Bosch and calmly sliding home.
McNamara had a golden chance to double her tally just a minute late when sent in behind, from which she could only scuff her finish wide.
The Nix continued to threaten from set pieces, Alivia Kelly glancing wide from a deep free kick.
And their first corner resulted in an almighty goalmouth scramble just before halftime.
Maliena Mieres fumbled the initial delivery, leading to chaos in the box, City clearing from the goalline multiple times.
Temple turned to his bench at the break, introducing Zoe McMeeken in place of the booked Tiana Jaber.
Wellington started the second period fast, Longo a hair away from converting Lara Wall’s cutback.
At the other end of the pitch, Wall inadvertently caught McNamara in the face with a raised boot, leading to a long stoppage in play.
Almost immediately following the restart, Laura Hughes won a penalty for City, colliding with Mackenzie Barry in the area, although Barry appeared to be standing her ground.
A patched-up McNamara stepped up to take it, but was denied by Vilão sprawling to her left.
The save instantly breathed fire into the match, both sides putting their foot on the accelerator.
Speckmaier somehow contrived to miss a nearly empty net after rounding Vilão.
She had just been involved in another physical battle, Barry supplying a thumping tackle on the Venezuelan international.
City looked the likeliest to score, McNamara screwing another presentable chance wide right.
The 70th minute saw two more Wellington substitutes introduced as Temple chased an unlikely victory.
Mebae Tanaka and Alyssa Whinham joined the fray, Main and Alivia Kelly being withdrawn.
With seven minutes to play, the Nix stitched some quality attacking play together, culminating in Grace Jale crunching a shot over the bar.
There was a frantic finish, Wellington pouring numbers forward in search of an elusive goal.
But an equaliser was not forthcoming, leaving the Phoenix in eighth place with two games to play in the regular season.
The Wellington Phoenix have next weekend off due to the last international break of the season, before facing Canberra United away the following Sunday.
Wellington Phoenix: 39. Carolina VILÃO (gk), 3. Tiana JABER (2. Zoe MCMEEKEN 46th), 4. Mackenzie BARRY, 5. Alivia KELLY (10. Alyssa WHINHAM 72nd), 6. Maya MCCUTCHEON, 7. Grace JALE, 9. Olivia FERGUSSON (22. Bryleeh HENRY 70th), 11. Manaia ELLIOTT, 16. Annalie LONGO (c), 20. Emma MAIN (14. Mebae TANAKA), 21. Lara WALL.
Unused substitutes: 13. Brooke NEARY (gk), 15. Daisy BRAZENDALE.
Melbourne City: 24. Malena MIERES (gk), 5. Taylor OTTO, 6. Leticia MCKENNA (10. Rhianna POLLICINA 90+3), 8. Alexia APOSTOLAKIS (27. Tyla-Jay VLAJNIC 90+3), 9. Holly MCNAMARA, 13. Rebekah STOTT (c), 14. Laura HUGHES, 16. Karly ROESTBAKKEN, 17. Mariana SPECKMAIER (12. Shelby MCMAHON 79th), 18. Leah DAVIDSON, 19. Lourdes BOSCH.
Unused substitutes: 23. Melissa BARBIERI (gk)
Goals:
35th – Holly McNamara (Melbourne City)
Cards:
39th – Tiana Jaber (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow
39th – Mariana Speckmaier (Melbourne City) – yellow
48th – Lara Wall (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow
