Western United 4-2 Wellington Phoenix
by Emma Burke (1/11/24)
Above: Celebration time for Western United earlier today. Photo: A-Leagues.
The A-League Women’s 2024/25 season has opened with a bang after Western United defeated Wellington Phoenix 4-2 at Ironbark Fields.
It was a five-goal flurry in the first half, with the visiting Wellington Phoenix starting off the goal fest. A cross came in low and hard from Alyssa Whinham into the path of what looked like Mebae Tanaka to score on her debut, but the goal was later ruled an own goal for Sasha Grove who’s clearance sent the ball into the top of the net.
Western United took less than two minutes to respond, from the reset in play, Captain Chloe Logarzo was played into the box with a long ball over her head, however, her shot was deflected by Portuguese keeper Carolina Vilao. Thankfully for the Matilda, the deflection fell right back into her path. Her second shot was tucked under a diving Vilao and into the back of the net.
Western found a second goal through Aimee Medwin only two minutes after equalising. Kahli Johnson broke away due to an advantage played and put through an impressive cutback that found Medwin in the box completely unmarked amongst a sea of yellow shirts.
The next goal came from Johnson, who found herself on the end of a well-timed and even better-paced cross from Catherine Zimmerman. Johnson’s first time hit on the ball went up and into the goal off the underside of the bar.
United scored their last goal of the game in the 40th minute after a mix-up in the Wellington Phoenix defence. Logarzo’s initial shot was deflected up into the air and came down on keeper Vilao who fumbled the ball when her own teammate Tiana Jaber got in her way while trying to head the ball away herself.
While the ball fell to the ground and Vilao threw herself after it, Logarzo came crashing in to put it over the line. However, Logarzo didn’t end up coming away with the last touch, as her touch seemed to be again deflected by Vilao, only for a waiting Zimmerman to put the ball over the line and it be awarded as a goal to Western United.
The second half saw Wellington try to play themselves back into the game. They came up with a few opportunities at goal, one particularly good one from Whinham, but her shot went straight into the keeper’s hands.
Some relief came to the visitors late in the game when they were awarded a penalty after substitute Lara Wall was taken down in the box by Grove.
Emma Main took the spot kick and sent United keeper Alyssa Dall’Oste diving to the left while Main’s shot went right down the middle and struck the underside of the bar.
The Phoenix, who had maintained most of the possession in the second half, were unable to find a third goal, despite a string of corner plays, leaving Western United comfortably, the hometown winners.
Western United will look to continue their winning form at home when they host the Central Coast Mariners at Ironbark Fields in round two, while Wellington Phoenix will be after their first points of the season when they host Canberra United at home at Porirua Park.
Don’t miss Adrian Geremia’s photo gallery from the game for Impetus now on our Insta page (@ImpetusFootball).
Teams: WESTERN UNITED (4-4-2): Dall’Oste, Grove, Cerne, Dehakiz, Maher, Hieda, Roach, Logarzo, Zimmerman, Medwin, Johnson Substitutes: Ibarguen, Prakash, M. Taranto, Sardo
Scorers: Logarzo 17’, Medwin 19’, Johnson 39’, Zimmerman 40’.
WELLINGTON PHOENIX (3-5-2): Vilao, Barry, Lake, Jaber, Elliot, McCutcheon, Whinham, Longo, Tanaka, Jale, Main Substitutes: McMeeken, Brazendale, Ingham, Wall.
Scorers: Grove (OG) 15′, Main 82’ (pen).
Referee: Georgia Ghirardello.
Attendance: 807.
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