Wellington Phoenix 0-1 Melbourne City
by Denise Duffy (15/10/23)
Above: Mackenzie Barry (4) tries to block Holly McNamara’s shot with Nix goalkeeper Rylee Foster (right) also involved. Photo: Wellington Phoenix.
In a game marred by blustery conditions and the unpredictable ball trajectory, it was New Zealand international Hannah Wilkinson who scored the winning goal for Melbourne City at Wellington Phoenix.
Having ended at the bottom of the table last year, the Phoenix introduced a fresh approach by implementing a high-pressing strategy and a short-passing system. While they remained competitive throughout the match, it was in the 73rd minute when the Nix briefly lost focus. A well-executed shot by Rhianna Pollicina forced a rebound off the Phoenix goalkeeper, Rylee Foster. The Nix, unfortunately, failed to react promptly, allowing New Zealand national Hannah Wilkinson to pounce on the loose ball and slot it into the net.
The Phoenix introduced six fresh faces in their starting lineup, including promising talents like Manaia Elliott, a New Zealand U17 and Phoenix Academy standout, Macey Fraser from New Zealand, the recent addition from the Houston Dash, Hope Breslin, the University of Pittsburgh standout Hailey Davidson, and Emma Main, who had been a spark towards the end of the previous season.
However, the most notable name on the pitch was Rylee Foster, the Canadian goalkeeper. This former Liverpool player made a remarkable comeback to football after suffering multiple neck fractures in October 2021, an injury that doctors initially believed would end her career.
Melbourne City, led by their newly appointed captain Kiwi Rebecca Stott, dominated possession in the first half. Although Phoenix Academy standout Manaia Elliott displayed her aggressive style down the left flank, the team struggled to find the required quality in the final third. Both sides displayed solid defensive work, preventing any goals in the first half, and keeping goalkeepers on their toes. The ever-reliable Holly McNamara of Melbourne City posed a significant threat with her play throughout the match.
The Wellington Phoenix kicked off the second half with the introduction of Mariana Speckmaier, an American-born Venezuelan international, off the bench. Her arrival brought the much-needed ball control and flair that the team had been missing.
The 50th-minute highlight of the match came from fullback Hailey Davidson, but Melbourne’s goalkeeper, Lysianne Proulx, made a vital save, cutting down the angle effectively.
In the 68th minute, a well-placed cross from Nix’s Kate Taylor fell in front of Speckmaier. She made a short hop and attempted a shot, but it sailed over the post, leaving both teams still in search of a breakthrough.
It was five minutes later that proved costly for the Nix as Wilkinson struck for the winner. Despite a late, frenzied push from both sides towards the end of the match, the effort did not yield the desired results. Melbourne City secured three valuable points, while the Phoenix will persist in their journey to rebuild a team brimming with potential.
Speaking afterwards, City head coach Dario Vidosic praised his striker for claiming the match-clinching goal: “First one to be alert to be there and goalkeeper spills it from a good shot and she’s there and that just shows the type of predator she is in the box.”
Phoenix Coach Paul Temple was frustrated with the outcome: “I think everyone’s really disappointed with the with the loss. We, I think did enough in terms of creating good goalscoring opportunities. We had some really good ones at the start of the second half, probably two big ones that we didn’t take, and ultimately, a team like Melbourne City, they had a lot of possession and they ended up punishing us. So yeah, it feels like a little bit of a blow. But there’s some there’s some good things that we were happy with as well.”
Teams: WELLINGTON PHOENIX (4-4-3): R. Foster, Taylor, Barry, Van Der Meer, Fraser, Knott, Breslin, M. Foster, Davidson, Main, Elliot. Substitutes: Edwards (GK), Wisnewski (62’), Whinham (80’), Speckmaier (45’), Lake (89’).
MELBOURNE CITY (4-4-3): Proulx, Torpey, Stott, Otto, Grosso, L. McKenna, Pollicina, Galic, Henry, McNamara, Wilkinson Substitutes: Barbieri (GK), Chinnama, Hughes, Karic (80’), T. McKenna.
Scorer: Wilkinson 73’
Attendance: 2,500.
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