A virtuoso performance from Annalie Longo has inspired the Wellington Phoenix to back-to-back wins in the Ninja A-League.
The Football Ferns midfielder has returned from injury to score two goals and lead the Phoenix to a 2-1 win over the Brisbane Roar in blustery conditions at Porirua Park.
Longo scored the match-winner in the 69th minute after the Roar had cancelled out her first goal in first half stoppage time.
Phoenix head coach Paul Temple has hailed his captain’s influence.
“Having someone like her is just incredible,” Temple told media post-match. “I started her on the left wing, then I moved her into an eight, then into a six. She’s so versatile and so intelligent.
“The dog’s not got the headlines, Annalie’s got the headlines. It’s good.
“Two goals, and I’m sure there’s more to come as well.”
The back-to-back wins lift the Nix on to the cusp of the top six with three matches remaining in the split fifth round and denies Brisbane a chance to return to the top of the ladder.
“It wasn’t that pretty, I don’t think. Both teams are really good footballing teams, and I don’t think you really saw either shine as well as we could have.
“It was hard conditions, but I think we’re seeing really battling qualities from our team, doing what’s needed to do to win.
“You need that, and we’re going to need that in future games as well.”
Paul Temple made one change to the XI which started their 1-0 Unite Round win over Adelaide United with Annalie Longo returning in place of Liv Ingham. New signing Alivia Kelly was named amongst the substitutes.
After a quiet start the game opened up and became more end-to-end with chances for both sides.
The Roar had the first opportunity to take the lead in the 15th minute when striker Evdokia Popadinova got in behind the Phoenix back four, but she was denied by Carolina Vilão who made a sharp save with her left foot.
Vilão’s opposite Olivia Sekany made an acrobatic save half a dozen minutes later to push Mebae Tanaka’s free-kick around her post.
Popadinova had another chance soon after but Tiana Jaber smothered her shot from six yards out.
Vilão made another one-on-one save shortly after the half hour mark, this time standing tall to deny Roar midfielder Emily Pringle.
Zoe McMeeken and Mebae Tanaka skied shots over the Brisbane goal either side of Pringle’s chance and before Longo gave the Nix the lead.
Wellington’s captain won the ball inside the Roar box as Brisbane played short from a goal kick, played a one-two with Olivia Fergusson and then slotted her shot past Sekany.
The Phoenix look destined to lead at the break but Pringle had other ideas. In time added on she won possession on halfway, burst forward past a couple of Phoenix defenders and threaded a shot past Vilão to level the scores.
Temple made his first change at the start of the second half, bringing on Kelly for her A-League and professional debut in place of Zoe McMeeken, with Jaber shifting out to right back to accommodate the American centre back.
The second 45 started much like the first with most of the action in between the two boxes.
Paul Temple responded by making a further two changes shortly after the hour mark, bringing on Emma Main and Manaia Elliott on in place Daisy Brazendale and Tanaka.
Fergusson had Wellington’s first shot on target of the second half soon after but she was unable to test Olivia Sekany in Brisbane’s goal. She saw the Roar ‘keeper off her line after winning possession inside the visitors’ half, but she was unable to execute her long-range lob.
Annalie Longo was able to get the better of Sekany in the 69th minute. She made a mazy run out to the right and curled in a left-footed shot that snuck inside the near post.
The Brisbane ‘keeper had to have a wits about her moments later to deny Longo a hat-trick when her cross-come-shot almost dipped under the bar.
Temple made his final substitution with little over a quarter of an hour remaining, bringing on Football Ferns forward Grace Jale in place of Alyssa Whinham.
The Roar came within inches of equalising in the 83rd minute when Chelsea Blissett’s right-wing corner struck the crossbar and Vilão did well soon after to keep out a powerful Leia Varley header from point blank following another Brisbane corner.
The Phoenix defended resolutely for the remainder of the 90 plus time added on to secure the three points and register back-to-back wins.
The Wellington Phoenix will have little time to celebrate the win as they’re back in action on Friday night in Melbourne against Melbourne Victory.
Wellington Phoenix: 39. Carolina VILÃO (gk), 2. Zoe MCMEEKEN (5. Alivia KELLY 46th), 3. Tiana JABER, 4. Mackenzie BARRY, 6. Maya MCCUTCHEON, 9. Olivia FERGUSSON, 10. Alyssa WHINHAM (7. Grace JALE 74th), 14. Mebae TANAKA (20. Emma MAIN 64th), 15. Daisy BRAZENDALE (11. Manaia ELLIOTT 64th), 16. Annalie LONGO (c), 21. Lara WALL.
Unused substitutes: 13. Brooke NEARY (gk).
Brisbane Roar: 33. Olivia SEKANY (gk), 2. Leia VARLEY, 3. Deborah-Anne DE LA HARPE, 6. Holly MCQUEEN, 7. Momo HAYASHI, 8. Mariel HECHER (c) (19. Laini FREIER 70th), 12. Tamar LEVIN (14. Zara KRUGER 70th), 16. Chelsea BLISSETT, 17. Evdokia POPADINOVA (10. Grace KUILAMU 56th), 18. Emily PRINGLE, 32. Alicia WOODS.
Unused substitutes: 1. Keeley RICHARDS (gk), 23. Isabela HOYOS.
Goals:
16. Annalie LONGO (Wellington Phoenix) – 35th & 69th
18. Emily PRINGLE (Brisbane Roar) – 45+1
Cards:
15. Daisy BRAZENDALE (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 46th
