Wellington Phoenix 1-1 Canberra United
by Callum Logie (8/11/25)
Above: Marisa van der Meer taking a shot for Wellington Phoenix Photo: via Wellington Phoenix
Wellington’s new coach Bev Priestman was looking to get her team off to a flying start in what’s already been an exciting opening to the season. But the Phoenix were met by a very determined Canberra United team who made life difficult for the hosts, looking to bounce back from a defeat.
The game started tentatively, with not much of a chance coming until the fourth minute when Canberra United won a free kick just outside the box. Nanako Sasaki took the free kick and drove a shot directly at goal, but it was too high to trouble Victoria Esson in goal.
At six minutes, Wellington created a great chance with Grace Jale driving a shot at goal from just inside the box. Sally James proved worthy of the effort and was able to keep the game scoreless. Jale was the best creator for the Phoenix through the first 15 minutes.
Canberra United enjoyed the majority of possession and positive territory in the first 10 minutes, but they were not yet able to create another meaningful chance since the Sasaki free kick.
At 12 minutes, Canberra United gave the ball away after some eager pressure applied from Sabitra Bhandari won her a one on one opportunity against James. Bhandari struck early but the effort was not too powerful and allowed James to steer it behind for a corner. The subsequent corner created another opportunity for Bhandari but the leg of her own team mate Grace Jale was not enough to direct the effort on target.
Wellington played a much faster and more positive pace when they were in possession, cheered on by their crowd and assisted by relentless pressing from the Phoenix forwards and midfielders. Canberra on the other hand played a high line to try and keep control of field position in the first half.
A break down the left side of the field from a Michelle Heyman hold up led to a determined Josie Aulicino picking up possession after a battle with the Wellington defence. Aulicino’s cross was driven in and actually managed to thread the needle between defender and keeper, opening the scoring. Aulicino’s first goal of the season gave Canberra an unlikely lead after absorbing a lot of pressure from Wellington.
The Phoenix created one or two half-chances through the middle period of the first half but were unable to get a shot on goal due to solid defensive effort from Hayley Taylor-Young and the rest of the Canberra defence. James also showed great awareness in her sweeping efforts if a ball was ever played or deflected behind.
The Phoenix’s offensive opportunities were often created by the talented Alyssa Whinham who was constantly sending in crosses or cutting inside herself to keep Wellington on the front foot while they tried to equalise against a stalwart Canberra side.
An in swinging corner from Lara Wall at the 39 minute mark tested James at the near post, with the ball being deflected off of the keeper and Bethany Gordon defending at the near post. The rebound fell to Marisa van der Meer on the volley and she was able to drill the ball over the goal line for the equaliser.
An added time corner at the end of the first half from Canberra almost led to a goal, with an Emma Robers header bringing out the very best from Victoria Esson who made the save to her left and kept the game even at half-time.
Considering the run of play from about 15 minutes in, Wellington will have felt a little hard done by going into half-time only even, but Canberra was well organised defensively, and looked dangerous, particularly when Aulicino and Kiara De Domizio were on the ball.
A long range effort began the second-half for Canberra with De Domizio trying out a half volley from 30 yards out. The wind in the stadium almost led to the ball dipping into Esson’s goal but it ended up being too high to be on target.
Canberra created another chance soon after, with Bethany Gordon running forward and firing a shot on goal from just outside the box. Esson was well-positioned and collected the ball at the first time of asking.
Bhandari was showing her superstar pedigree when Wellington got forward, driving two dangerous crosses into the Canberra United box in the 53rd and 54th minutes, but there was no recipient to either delivery and Canberra kept the score at 1-1 after 10 minutes of the second half.
In the 62nd minute, Wellington Phoenix created the best chance of the half after Alyssa Whinham weighted a delicate through ball to Samba who took an early shot on goal. Unfortunately for the Phoenix, the shot itself was somewhat tame and James was able to collect.
At 71 minutes, Bhandari worked some magic to loop in a floating cross to the back post after showing great strength and skill to hold onto the possession. Manaia Elliott was unable to direct the resulting header at goal, but the Phoenix continued pushing to take the lead.
Gordon won a free kick for Canberra United in a dangerous position and the strike from the Ava Briedis free-kick forced a good save out of Esson. The subsequent corner led to some more trouble for Wellington as a low cross nearly found its way toward Esson’s near post. The keeper was able to clear the line again and the attack eventually faded into nothing for Canberra United.
Neither team looked content to settle for a draw as the game entered its last 10 minutes. Heyman finally got a chance with a free header at the far post, but her effort was driven straight into the waiting hands of Esson, who played very well during this period of Canberra attack.
Emma Main took a stretching shot after a Phoenix counter-attack, but was unable to get enough power behind the strike to test James in the 85th minute. Both keepers proved very capable throughout this match-up.
This action packed game went down to the wire, and showed why both teams feel that they’ve improved heading into this season. Some of the last few touches or shots were a little below the standard the teams would have expected but provided a promising platform to go forward as the spoils were shared.
Teams: WELLINGTON PHOENIX (4-4-2): Esson, Wall, Walker, Barry, van der Meer, Nunn, Bott, Middag, Jale, Bhandari, Whinam. Substitutes: Brazendale, Elliott, Feinberg-Danieli, Ingham, Main, Vlok.
Goals: van der Meer 39′
CANBERRA UNITED (4-4-2): James, Robers, McKenzie, Taylor-Young, Grove, Sasaki, De Domizio, Malone, Gordon, Heyman, Aulicino. Substitutes: Bobbim, Briedis, Hawkins, Majstorovic, Stanic-Floody.
Goals: Aulicino 18′.
Referee: Sarah Jones.
Attendance: 4,566.
Follow Impetus on social media:
@ImpetusFootball on X, Instagram and TikTok.
impetusfootball.org 