Wellington Phoenix 2-1 Western Sydney Wanderers
by Ben Gilby (9/3/25)
Above: Mebae Tanake (centre) celebrates after her superb equalising goal for Wellington Phoenix today. Photo: A-League Women.
Wellington Phoenix came from behind with two goals in the last 15 minutes to defeat Western Sydney Wanderers at Porirua Park and move to within a point of the top six.
The Nix had the first real chance of the match just eight minutes in when Manaia Elliott escaped through on the left of centre to crash in a low shot that went agonisingly wide of the far post.
Shortly afterwards they came close again when Annalie Longo’s corner curled in from the left towards the near post and Olivia Fergusson’s header flashed just wide of that same post once more.
It wasn’t all Wellington though as the Wanderers broke through with 20 minutes on the clock and the ball was squared from the right flank to Sienna Saveska to send in a powerful effort from the edge of the box that Carolina Vilão pushed away spectacularly.
Just two minutes later, the visitors were ahead. Alivia Kelly wasn’t sure whether to stick or twist as Bronte Trew pressured her outside the box, and that momentary hesitation between her and Vilão allowed the Western Sydney attacker to nip in and calmly roll the ball home.
Shortly afterwards, the dangerous Saveska sent a viciously curling left footed free-kick in from the right which only just cleared the bar, as the Wanderers looked to press home their advantage.
Wellington hit back strongly for the remainder of the half. It was from another set piece that gave them another chance just before the half hour mark. Longo sent in another dangerous corner from the left that nestled into the mix, but Emma Main skied her effort from the edge of the six yard box.
Three minutes before the break, Main released Whinham along the right flank. The talented midfielder skipped clear, then cut in along the by-line to supply a low ball for Fergusson, who was not much more than three yards out from goal, but her first time shot agonisingly came back off the right hand post. Moments later Whinham and Fergusson were involved again, this time with the latter seeing a shot squirm wide of that same post.
Whinham’s influence continued. On the hour mark, she broke through right of centre and hit a shot that was repelled by a flying Sham Khamis in the Wanderers goal who incredibly got back on her feet to save Elliott’s follow up.
Finally, with a quarter of an hour remaining, the Nix got on the score sheet. Longo’s corner from the right was initially repelled by the Wanderers defence, only for that clearance to fall for Mebae Tanaka who took a touch and fired an absolute rocket into the net for her first ever A-League Women goal.
Then, with four minutes left of regulation time, the visitors lost possession near the left hand corner flag allowing Zoe McMeeken to put a cross into the box for Fergusson to hit a superb first time volley in from close range.
It was exactly what the Phoenix deserved. With most of the teams around them dropping points this weekend, Paul Temple’s team have got back to winning ways at the right time. If Wellington can continue to keep focussed at the back and take their chances when they come, they can hit the Finals places for sure.
Speaking after the game, the Nix boss said: “It’s huge for us to get three points because it capitalises on that, cuts the gap to one and of course if it’s that tight it’s anyone’s game.
“The manner of how we won that game today will help the confidence as well so it was just what we needed.”
Teams: WELLINGTON PHOENIX (4-4-2): Vilão, Jaber, McCutcheon, Kelly, Wall, Whinham, Longo, Brazendale, Elliott, Main, Fergusson. Substitutes: Abbott, Ingham, McMeeken, Neary, Tanaka.
Scorers: Tanaka 75′, Fergusson 86′.
WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS (4-3-3): Khamis, Matos, Buchanan, Harrison, McComasky, Chessari, Price, Harada, Saveska, Rue, Trew. Substitutes: Bennett, Caspers, Kapetanellis, Younis.
Scorer: Trew 22′.
Referee: Isabella Mossin.
Attendance: 678.
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