Wellington Phoenix 3-1 Western United
By Kieran Yap (12/11/23).
Above: Wellington Phoenix players mob Macey Fraser after her stunning free kick. Photo: Wellington Phoenix.
Wellington Phoenix continued their strong start to the season with a 3-1 win over Western United.
Goals to Chloe Knott and Macey Fraser in the first half were followed up by an own goal to Kiwa Hieda to give the home side a 3-0 lead before Chloe Logarzo scored a late but deserved consolation for Western.
The Phoenix were looking for their third consecutive win when they hosted last season’s runner-up at Parirua Park. Western United still needed to kickstart their season with only one win in the first three rounds. Both teams started this game with attacking intent. Kahli Johnson looked dangerous early and Mariana Speckmaier caused headaches for the Western defence and their high line.
The best early chance arrived through the genius and vision of Logarzo. The Matildas star shaped to shoot but cut the ball back to wrong foot the Wellington back line. Adriana Taranto struck it well, but her effort cannoned off the crossbar.
The game quickly became an end-to-end affair and a goal felt inevitable despite the quality defenders on either side. When the breakthrough came it was from the reliable source of Michaela Foster’s delivery.
The Phoenix fullback is one of the league’s most dangerous set piece takers and her whipped in corner caused chaos on the Western United goal line. Knott reacted best to force the ball over in the 31st minute.
Western looked to hit back immediately, but it was Wellington who scored again. Free kicks on the edge of the area often seem more dangerous than they are. For most players getting the ball up, over or around the wall while keeping it on target is harder from 20 yards than it is from further out.
What we learned today was that Macey Fraser is not most players. The Wellington midfielder’s effort curled in at pace. The strike completely wrong-footed Alyssa Dall’Oste in goal and leave her rooted to the spot as it rippled the back of the net.
Both sides continued to attack throughout, with Speckmaier seemingly determined to add her name to the scoresheet. Western continued to create chances up the other end, but the ball never fell right for them. Jacylyn Sawicki had the best chance to provide a lifeline, but her effort was scuffed with the goal at her mercy.
Despite Western’s best efforts, they had to continually wrestle momentum back from the home side. Wellington moved the ball quickly and snapped into tackles around the ground. Kate Taylor provided a strong defensive presence in midfield that allowed the attackers and fullback to take risks ahead of her. The Nix barely slowed as the afternoon wore on and when they introduced Annalie Longo, the danger only increased for the visitors.
A third goal eventually arrived, and it was Foster once more who supplied the ball in. this time it was directed into the net for an own goal by Hieda, and the result felt sealed by the 76th minute.
Western’s goal finally arrived in injury time. On the balance of the game, they deserved to score at least once and Chloe Logarzo’s effort would have been the best goal on any other day.
The Matildas great controlled the ball in Western’s attack and held up the play as her teammates streamed forward. Wellington’s defence shifted shape to try and track the runners and that provided Logarzo with all the space that she needed to produce something special.
Her long range effort looped high and dipped over Rylee Foster to make it 3-1 in spectacular fashion. When the whistle blew for the final time, it signaled an emphatic win for Wellington Pheonix.
Although Western were admirable in defeat and created plenty of chances, this was a comprehensive performance by the home side. They have player brave with the ball and committed without it across the pitch. Wellington have a good mix of flair and grunt, with some other wordly set-piece talents that will trouble any defenders in the league.
There is also depth to this side, which they have been missing in previous seasons. Taylor can switch roles when needed and Hailey Davidson has already proven to be a good recruit at left back.
Rylee Foster was reliable in goal and has Brianna Edwards as a more than capable understudy. Mackenzie Barry’s development into one of the best centre backs in the league continues as hoped.
They have started the season well. There is plenty of football left to be played, but at their best, The Wellington Phoenix have shown that they will fear nobody for the rest of 2023/24.
Lineups:
Wellington Phoenix 4-3-3: R Foster (GK), Davidson, Barry, van der Meer, M Foster, Knott, Taylor, Fraser, Main, Speckmaier, Bresline. Substitutes: Brown, Longo, Elliot, Lake, Edwards.
Goals: Knott 31’ Fraser 41’ Hieda (OG) 76’
Western United 4-2-3-1: Dall Oste’ (GK), Papadopoulos, Cerne, Maher, Vlajnic, Robers, Sawicki, Johnson, Taranto, Logarzo, Keane. Substitutes: Richards, Hieda, Prakash, Beall, Sardo
Goals: Logarzo 93’
Referee: Beth Rattray
Attendance: TBC
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