The Wellington Phoenix Women’s five-match unbeaten streak at Porirua Park has come to an end in an ill-tempered match despite a strong performance from Carolina Vilão.
Her penalty save and Olivia Fergusson’s solo stunner were not enough in Adelaide United's 3-1 victory on Sunday in the A-League.
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Head coach Paul Temple was disappointed with what he felt was an underwhelming performance.
“From our perspective we were not really at it, I didn’t think,” he told media post-match. “Adelaide were the better team and ultimately deserved to win.
“I thought they won far more battles [and] duels and kept turning our back four around and using that front three of theirs to good effect.
“It was hard to break their momentum. They won that middle of the park battle really.”
He reserved high praise for Adelaide, but still felt the Nix could have offered more.
“I genuinely think they’ll go really close to winning the whole thing. They’re just a good team and in my view they’re the hardest team we’ve played against this season.
“There’s no shame in losing to a good side like that, but I’m disappointed in the way we performed.
“We didn’t really have our flow, our momentum. I thought we lost way too many battles and ultimately it wasn’t good enough.”
While losing at home was frustrating, he remained confident that the side can secure a playoff spot with six games remaining.
“I don’t know if it will necessarily dent the confidence because we lost at home.
“We’re still in with a chance. And if that isn’t motivation for us then I don’t know what is.
“We can still do it. We just made it a little bit harder. It’s a bit more of a mountain to climb after today.”
Temple made three changes to the XI which started the 2-1 defeat to Perth Glory before the international break with Zoe McMeeken, Alyssa Whinham, and Emma Main returning to the side in place of Manaia Elliott, Daisy Brazendale and the injured Grace Jale.
McMeeken was named captain a fortnight after becoming the third Phoenix women’s player to play 50 A-League matches for the club.
The match shaped as an uphill battle for the Phoenix against third-placed Adelaide, especially after the Reds struck in the fourth minute.
A flighted corner saw Ella Tonkin outjump everybody and head home powerfully at the back post.
Mackenzie Barry produced an outstanding piece of defending soon after, denying Chelsie Dawber at point-blank range with a slide tackle.
Just a minute later, a combination of Vilāo and Alyssa Whinham were needed to clear a dangerous Dylan Holmes free kick off the goal line.
The away side were able to find regular space behind the Nix backline, and were only denied a second when Dawber found the side netting after being sent clear through.
Adelaide’s physicality was proving a tough hurdle to overcome, Wellington unable to break the lines.
The Phoenix responded by upping the intensity of their own press, which almost paid immediate dividends.
Olivia Fergusson forced a mistake high up the pitch, but Main was unable to capitalise, her shot blocked strongly.
Holmes came even closer with a second free kick from an identical position to her first, Vilão again called into action to block the first attempt and then Erin Healy’s follow-up.
Adelaide kept knocking on the door, Dawber looping onto the crossbar when well positioned.
Outside of a powerful strike from Longo which flew straight into Jenkins’ arms, the Phoenix were unable to fashion clear shooting opportunities.
But they found an equaliser against the run of play five minutes before half-time after an outstanding piece of work from Fergusson.
Pressing on her own, she intercepted an errant pass from Matilda McNamara before lobbing the stranded Jenkins from the best part of 30 yards.
Temple made one change at the break, introducing Daisy Brazendale in place of the booked Alivia Kelly.
Two minutes later, Leon did manage to restore Adelaide’s lead, albeit possibly by accident.
Regardless of the intended outcome, her cross-shot floated into the top corner from the corner of the area.
Adelaide were back on top, forcing Vilão into a flurry of saves, including a spectacular tip over the bar from Worts’ shot from six yards out.
Led by Annalie Longo, the Nix managed to wrest back control over the game in their search for an equaliser.
Longo herself came closest, just unable to properly catch her volley after Tiana Jaber’s teasing cross found her in space.
Whinham and McMeeken made way for Amelia Abbott and Manaia Elliott with twenty minutes to play as Temple looked to pile on the pressure.
A number of heavy challenges began to fly in from both sides as tensions grew.
And from one of the ensuing free kicks, Vilão produced another outstanding reflex save, gloving McNamara’s header onto the bar when the Matilda looked certain to score.
Worts was presented with a golden chance to seal the game when Jaber’s high boot caught Dawber. The referee had waved play on to begin with before awarding the penalty after a long consultation with the other officials.
But Vilão, who had been in outstanding form all game, dived full stretch and diverted the ball around the post to keep the Nix in the contest.
From the resulting corner, Adelaide hit the bar for the third time, Worts still unable to find the net.
Temple made his final change in the 85th minute, bringing on Mebae Tanaka for Jaber in an attacking switch.
However, Adelaide immediately wrapped up the contest with another set piece goal, Leon poking home after another threatening corner.
Main’s injury time free kick flew just over the bar in the last real chance for the Nix, who remain four points off the playoffs with just six games remaining in the season.
The Wellington Phoenix will be back at Porirua Park next Sunday when they play Western Sydney Wanderers for the Sister City Cup.