Phoenix Women suffer loss to Melbourne City
- Dave Worsley
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
The Wellington Phoenix’s playoff hopes have been dealt a major 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.
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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.
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.