The Wellington Phoenix women have secured their first ever point in the state of Victoria to stretch their unbeaten run to three matches.
The Phoenix have come from a goal down to draw 1-all with the high-flying Melbourne Victory in their sixth round Ninja A-League match at the Home of the Matildas in Melbourne.
The Nix had lost their seven previous matches in Victoria.
Young Wellington substitute Manaia Elliott scored the equaliser in the 90th minute after the hosts had taken the lead from the penalty spot early in the second half.
Phoenix head coach Paul Temple was thrilled with the performance and the result.
“We had a gameplan and the women were brilliant,” Temple said. “I asked them to defend in a certain way to create some counter-attacking opportunities and nullify some of their threats.
“We knew that at some point in the game, if we stayed in it for long enough, that we would have some really good impact off the bench, some fresh energy and we could take it to them and see if we could get something.
“In the end that plan worked well and we came away with a point and arguably could have taken all three.
“We created some good chances in that last 20 minutes to win the game, but we’re pretty happy with a point.”
Wellington remain eighth on the ladder, but are now just a point outside the top six.
“Tonight was a real shift in terms of the direction we want to take.
“We got in that position quite a number of times last season when we were one-nil down away from home and the games sort of unravelled and we couldn’t find a way back.
“For us to stay in the game, show the character to hold on and then to probably be the best team for the last 15 minutes, push to get something from the game and get our reward is huge growth for us.
“I thought that was a big step forward for us as a team and will give us a lot of confidence.”
Paul Temple made two changes to the XI which started the 2-1 win over Brisbane Roar on Sunday with new signing Alivia Kelly and Football Ferns forward Grace Jale replacing Zoe McMeeken and Mebae Tanaka respectively.
Victory made a fast start and the Phoenix had Carolina Vilão to thank for not falling behind inside five minutes.
Wellington’s Portuguese goalkeeper first did well to keep out a powerful left-footed shot from Alana Jancevski before swotting away a point blank Nicki Flannery header.
Vilão was untroubled for the remainder of the half, with the Phoenix back five of Lara Wall, Maya McCutcheon, Kelly, Mackenzie Barry and Tiana Jaber frustrating their high-profile hosts.
The Nix had less than a third of the possession in the first 45, but had some moments on the counter-attack and Victory ‘keeper Courtney Newbon had to make a sharp save of her own in the 22nd minute.
Following some nice play by Grace Jale, wearing the no. 60 shirt as a result of a bloody nose, Wall delivered a first time ball from the left and Alyssa Whinham cleverly beat Victory captain Kayla Morrison in Melbourne’s box before being thwarted by Newbon’s left leg.
Otherwise there was little goalmouth action and it remained scoreless at the break.
The hosts ended the stalemate five minutes into the second half after Flannery won the Victory a penalty.
Vilão dove the right way and got her fingertips to Jancevski’s spot kick but couldn’t push the shot around her left-hand post.
The Victory’s Matildas Alex Chidiac and Emily Gielnik had a couple of shots around the hour mark, one from the edge of the box and one from long-range, but both were straight at the Phoenix ‘keeper.
Temple made a triple-change soon after, bringing on Zoe McMeeken, Emma Main and Mebae Tanaka in place of Daisy Brazendale, Olivia Fergusson and Whinham respectively. The substitutions allowed McCutcheon to move into midfield and she started winning the ball higher up the park.
She also had a shot from distance that sailed over the bar, with Wellington unable to test Newbon in Victory’s goal.
Vilão’s remained the busier of the two ‘keepers. She made a good reflex save to deny Gielnik from a corner midway through the second half and 10 minutes later held on to a Claudia Bunge volley from six yards out.
The Nix came within inches of equalising moments after Bunge’s volley when Main attempted to steer Tanaka’s off-target shot into the far corner. Unfortunately for Main and the Phoenix it went narrowly wide of the right post.
Paul Temple made his final substitution in the 83rd minute, bringing on winger Manaia Elliott in place of centre back Kelly.
The change in formation had its desired effect with Wellington looking the more dangerous of the two sides for the remainder of the match and Elliott, Main and Tanaka all had shots at goal soon after.
Two of the substitutes combined for the equaliser in the final minute of normal time with Emma Main delivering a pinpoint right-wing cross that Manaia Elliott met with a thumping header that Victory ‘keeper Courtney Newbon was powerless to stop.
There were no further chances for either side in the five minutes of stoppage time with the Phoenix holding on to secure their first ever Ninja A-League point in Victoria.
The Wellington Phoenix will return home tomorrow and will quickly turn their attentions to next Saturday’s match against reigning champions Sydney FC at Porirua Park.
Wellington Phoenix: 39. Carolina VILÃO (gk), 3. Tiana JABER, 4. Mackenzie BARRY, 5. Alivia KELLY (11. Manaia ELLIOTT 83rd), 6. Maya MCCUTCHEON, 7. Grace JALE, 9. Olivia FERGUSSON (20. Emma MAIN 65th), 10. Alyssa WHINHAM (14. Mebae TANAKA 65th), 15. Daisy BRAZENDALE (2. Zoe MCMEEKEN 65th), 16. Annalie LONGO (c), 21. Lara WALL.
Unused substitutes: 13. Brooke NEARY (gk).
Melbourne Victory: 50. Courtney NEWBON (gk), 2. Eloise WILSON, 3. Claudia BUNGE, 6. Beattie GOAD, 8. Alana MURPHY, 10. Alex CHIDIAC, 11. Nicki FLANNERY, 15. Emily GIELNIK, 18. Kayla MORRISON (c), 23. Rachel LOWE (13. Sara D’APPOLONIA 88th), 66. Alana JANCEVSKI (7. Ella O’GRADY 79th).
Unused substitutes: 61. Geo CANDY (gk), 22. Ava BRIEDIS, 24. Laura PICKETT.
Goals:
66. Alana JANCEVSKI (Melbourne Victory) – 51st pen
11. Manaia ELLIOTT (Wellington Phoenix) – 90th
Cards:
11. Manaia ELLIOTT (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 84th
