Wellington Phoenix 2-0 Sydney FC
by Alyce Collett (21/12/24)
Above: The Wellington Phoenix XI that started against Sydney FC. Photo: Wellington Phoenix.
Wellington Phoenix have picked up an early Christmas present by defeating Sydney FC by two goals to nil at Porirua Park this afternoon.
The first half may have been as even as it got, but Wellington came out firing after an extended half time break, and with goals from Grace Jale and Zoe McMeeken it was the hosts who came away from the match with the points, to record their first win against the Sky Blues on home soil.
The first half started in a pretty free-flowing fashion, with a lot of end-to-end action and both teams having plenty of attacking play, but thanks to strong defensive work those attacking plays did not call on too many goalkeeping saves.
For the most part, any time either side had a decent enough chance at goal, their opponent would pack the box with sheer numbers to placate the danger of the attack.
Sydney did have back-to-back dangerous chances about halfway through the half – with Millie Farrow really at the centre of them – but did not capitalise on either of the prime opportunities. Carolina Vilao was also having a really strong game for the Phoenix, and much like last week was really keeping her side in the match.
Possession was chaotic from both sides at times, with strong defensive pressure ensuring no one had much time to gain true control of the ball.
The half-time stats really showed how even the first 45 minutes had been. Wellington only had four percent more time in possession than Sydney, which in reality translated to only 20 more passes. However, Sydney’s passing accuracy was seven percent better than its hosts.
Sydney led the shot count three to two, but both sides only had one shot on target.
The biggest discrepancy was in the touches in the opposition box, which Sydney led 11 to two.
But, any thoughts of fixing issues and trying to get back onto the field after half-time would have to wait as the weather in New Zealand’s capital took a turn for the worse and there was a delay which saw the half time break quadrupled.
When the second half finally did get underway, the end to end nature of the action continued.
In a bright spark for the Phoenix, half time substitute Alyssa Winham had really provided a spark in midfield as the momentum was definitely in the home side’s corner.
The deadlock was finally broken at about the hour mark, when Grace Jale struck a long bomb from outside the 18 yard box – an effort that should have realistically been stopped by Sydney keeper Tahlia Franco, but the ball ultimately skidded past her and into the goal.
One thing that the Phoenix did really well in the second half was neutralise the effect of Sydney’s most dangerous players in attack. Farrow’s time on the ball drastically reduced from where it was in the first half, while Princess Ibini had barely touched the ball in the first half and that continued in the second.
As the second half progressed Wellington increased their defensive pressure, which really subdued any attacking play the Sky Blues had.
Wellington was then rewarded for its control of the match with a second goal two minutes from the end of normal time after McMeeken headed a goal in from a corner.
Ibini was almost able to get one back moments after the restart, but the upright came to the rescue of the Phoenix.
The seven minutes of added time was at times chaotic, but ultimately the home side held firm to claim the win.
Teams: WELLINGTON PHOENIX (4-3-3): Vilao, McMeeken, Jaber, Barry, McCutcheon, Jale, Ferguson, Tanaka, Longo, Main, Wall. Substitutes: Neary, Kelly, Whinham, Elliott, Brazendale.
Scorers: Jale 59’, McMeeken 88’
SYDNEY FC (4-3-3): Franco, Tumeth, Tobin, Thompson, Lemon, Chauvet, Caspers, Hawkesby, Ibini, Farrow, dos Santos. Substitutes: Edwards, Connors, Luchtmeijer, Johnson, Sullivan.
Referee: Beth Rattray.
Attendance: 435.
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