Adelaide United 2-1 Wellington Phoenix
By Ryan Miller-Woods 16/12/23
Above: Adelaide United’s Mariah Lee. Photo: Adelaide United
Adelaide United have their first win of not only this A-League Women’s season but since Round 17 of the last one with a great come-from-behind 2-1 win against Wellington Phoenix at Marden Sports Complex.
Within the first 10 minutes of the match, it was an even encounter in terms of the chances that had been made between the two sides but Wellington significantly had more possession of the ball with 73.1%.
In the 12th minute, Wellington had an amazing opportunity to have opened the scoring thanks to a great through ball by Michaela Foster that found Mariana Speckmaier. She made a great run into the box and was one one-on-one with Annalee Grove but Speckmaier’s shot ricocheted off the post.
Wellington didn’t have to wait long to find the opener as nine minutes later, Macey Fraser provided a great through ball for Emma Main whose eventual run into the box saw her slot the ball past Grove for her second goal of the season.
With a half-hour played, Adelaide looked good at times within attack as they made chances but weren’t able to capitalise on them due to how well the Phoenix defended, Rebecca Lake in particular really proved to make a difference within the backline.
Furthermore, Adelaide came out of the half fortunate to have conceded just once as the sheer number of close chances Wellington created could have been a very different scoreline
Wellington, on the other hand, would have been very pleased and satisfied with how they played in the first half but at the same time have built a really commanding lead going into the second half.
Early after the break , both teams had made chances in attack but nothing necessarily threatened to go in within the first 15 minutes of the half.
In the 75th minute, Chelsie Dawber made a great run with the ball towards the box but was denied by Wellington’s Rylee Foster which brought her out from goal. Adelaide seized upon the moment with Emily Condon as her shot went into the back of the net for United’s equaliser .
Ten minutes later, from an Adelaide free kick, Nanako Sasaki’s shot towards goal went over Foster and converted from the set-piece as United took the lead, something that wouldn’t have been entirely expected when looking at how the first half transpired.
If Adelaide’s first goal wasn’t frustrating for Wellington to have conceded, then United’s second goal definitely would have been knowing how well they had played and the chances created in the match but simply didn’t convert more of their opportunities in front of goal.
Teams: Adelaide United (4-5-1): Grove, E. Hodgson, Waldus, Tonkin, I. Hodgson, Blake, Jancevski, Sasaki, Holmes, Dawber, Lee. Substitutes: Jenkins, Bowler, Condon, Holtz, Morgan.
Scorers: Condon 75’, Sasaki 85’.
Wellington Phoenix (4-2-3-1): R. Foster, M. Foster, Lake, Taylor, Davidson, Fraser, Longo, Barry, Elliott, Main, Speckmaier. Substitutes: Edwards, McMeeken, Whinham, Breslin, Robertson.
Scorers: Main 21’
Referee: Rebecca Durcau.
Attendance: TBC.
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