Western Sydney Wanderers 0-3 Wellington Phoenix
by Isabelle Campbell (30/12/25)
Above: Wellington Phoenix (white) and Western Sydney Wanderers contest possession tonight at Wanderers Football Park. Photo: Western Sydney Wanderers.
In a scrappy and physical encounter at Wanderers Football Park, Wellington Phoenix secured a dominant 3-0 win over Western Sydney Wanderers.
The Phoenix’s attacking quality proved too much for the Wanderers, with a brace from Emma Main and a goal from Samba sealing the result. The win marking Wellington’s first points earned points away this season and took their recent for and against tally to 10-0 when taking on Sydney’s clubs in the competition.
The match began at a slow tempo, but it didn’t take long for Wellington Phoenix to make their mark. In the seventh minute, Emma Main opened the scoring with her first goal of the season. Positioned perfectly in front of goal, Main tapped in a precise pass from Samba to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
The match soon became a hard-fought contest, with both teams battling fiercely for possession in the midfield.
As the half progressed, Wellington continued to apply pressure. In the 39th minute, they were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position after a foul on goalscorer Main. Grace Jale stepped up to take it, but Sham Khamis in the Wanderers’ goal was quick to react, clearing the ball away from danger.
Shortly after, Wellington thought they had doubled their lead when Samba slotted the ball into the back of the net, but the celebrations were cut short as the offside flag was raised.
The match became increasingly physical, with six minutes of added time playing out in the first half. Despite this, neither side managed to find the back of the net again, and the teams headed into halftime with Wellington Phoenix leading 1-0.
The second half got underway with Wellington showing no signs of easing up. It didn’t take long for Samba to get her name on the score sheet. In the 48th minute, a well-timed cross from Brooke Nunn found its way into the box, and after a fumble from the Wanderers defence, the striker slotted home her third goal of the season, much to the delight of the large group of Nepalese fans in the stands.
The Phoenix weren’t content to stop there, and just minutes later, they furthered their lead. In the 52nd minute, Main netted her second goal of the game, putting Wellington up 3-0 and continuing to put pressure on the Wanderers.
Shortly after, Emma Pijnenburg, the New Zealand international who has just signed from Dutch club Feyenoord, made her A-League debut, coming on as a substitute.
With Wellington in control, the Wanderers didn’t see their first shot on target until the 84th minute. They won a free kick just outside the box, and Amy Harrison stepped up to take it. However, Vic Esson was equal to it, gathering the ball and maintaining her side’s clean sheet.
Despite a late push from the Wanderers, they couldn’t break through the Phoenix defence, and Wellington Phoenix walked away with a 3-0 victory, securing their first away win of the season.
Teams: WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS (4-4-2): Khamis, Cerne, Buchanan, Wang, Matos, Chessari, Harada, Harrison, Berryhill, Ng Saad, Soeun. Substitutes: Hooks, Bennett, Yuan, Younis, Caspers, Edwards.
WELLINGTON PHOENIX (4-4-2): Esson, Bott, Barry, Walker, Jale, Samba, van der Meer, Main, Wall, Nunn, Vlok. Substitutes: Danieli, Elliott, León, D.Brazendale, Benson, Pijnenburg.
Goals: Main 7, 52’, Samba 48’.
Referee: Georgia Ghirardello
Attendance: 1,622.
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