Wellington Phoenix 0-1 Melbourne City
By Kieran Yap 30/3/25
Above: Holly McNamara (left) is congratulated by Leticia McKenna after her goal. Photo: Melbourne City
A Holly McNamara goal, her 12th of the season, has given Melbourne City a vital win away to Wellington Phoenix and maintained their lead at the top of the table with two games left to play.
City arrived in New Zealand in strong form, a 3-0 win the previous weekend in the Asian Champions League was followed up by a 4-0 thrashing of Brisbane Roar on Wednesday. With second placed Melbourne Victory closing in, another win here was crucial and would maintain a five point gap between first and second spot on the ladder.
Wellington needed a win to maintain any mathematical chance of reaching sixth place on the ladder, and even in the best case scenario would need other results to go their way. Still they began in aggressive style. Emma Main’s cross from the right almost set up Olivia Ferguson for the opening goal. The header flashed wide.
City played their usually possession game and looked to build through the midfield or Lourdes Bosch on the right wing. Wellington had some success in crowding the centre of the pitch rather than trying to press high up the pitch for the visitors to play through.
This made for a combative midfield tussle. Annalie Longo and Laura Hughes both looked to exert their influence and for the opening half hour, the strikers from either side were isolated.
The breakthrough came on the 35th minute. McNamara volleyed home the cross from Bosch with instinct and technique. The shot took Carolina Vilao by surprise, but was perfectly directed to beat the Portuguese goalkeeper.
McNamara would have two clear chances to double the lead. First after winning possession and shooting just moments after scoring, and again with a second half penalty that Vilao was equal to. The save lit up the home crowd and gave Wellington some added inspiration for the second half.
For the last 20 minutes of the game, a Wellington equaliser looked likely and may have been deserved. The Phoenix were pushing for a goal, maintained attacking pressure and delivered a series of promising attacks, but they were missing the cutting edge or composure to finish them. The introductions of Alyssa Whinham and Mebae Tanaka added some pace to the side, but neither was able to really test Malena Mieres.
For all their positive play, Wellington’s best chance of the match came in the first half when a corner kick looked to be headed directly for the net, only for City to scramble clear with the desperation of a side hungry for a second successive premiership.
It bodes well for City in the remaining matches of the home and away season. They can win with style, or grind out a result, and when it matters, luck is falling their way.
City next host The Newcastle Jets in a game that could possibly seal the premiership, while Wellington continue the fight with a trip to face Canberra United.
Teams: Wellington Phoenix 4-4-2: Vilao, Jaber, Kelly, Barry, Wall, Main, McCutcheon, Jale, Elliot, Longo, Fergusson. Substitutes: McMeeken, Whinham, Tanaka, Neary, Brazendale.
Melbourne City 4-4-2: Mieres, Roestbakken, Stott, Otto, Apostolakis, Bosch, Davidson, Hughes, Speckmaier, McNamara, McKenna. Substitutes: Pollicina, McMahon, Henry, Vlajnic, Barbieri.
Goals: McNamara 35’
Referee: Bec Mackie
Attendance: 862.
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