Wellington Phoenix 3-1 Sydney FC
By Ryan Imray 15/11/2026
Above: Grace Jale (#7) celebrates scoring the Phoenix’s 3rd goal. Photo: Ryan Imray for Impetus.
The Wellington Phoenix’s return to their fortress of Porirua Park was a positive one as they defeated Sydney 3-1 this afternoon thanks to goals from Indiah-Paige Riley, Milly Clegg and Grace Jale.
It only took 6 minutes for the opening goal of the game. Clegg won the ball inside her half before driving forward and finding Brooke Nunn inside the penalty box. Nunn’s perfectly executed cross found an unmarked Riley who made it two goals in two weeks for the Phoenix’s new signing.
The Phoenix enjoyed a majority of the possession without creating any clear-cut chances. Clegg had the best chance, but her effort flew just wide of the post. Sydney, who were persistent with playing out from the back, struggled to get out of its own half and the pressure finally paid off for the Phoenix as they nabbed their second goal inside the first 20 minutes. Clegg’s run in the box was cut short when Willa Pearson bought her down. Clegg got up to convert the penalty, sending her effort into the bottom corner leaving Tiahna Robertson rooted to the spot.
Brooke Neary, who grew up playing her junior football just a twenty-minute drive from Porirua Park, made her home starting debut and was forced into a quick double save half way through the first half as Sydney began to grow into the game. The first of those saves coming from a Maddie Caspers effort after some patient build up play from the visitors. The second of those saves came just a minute later when Riley Cohn’s effort looked destined for the bottom corner but Neary got a strong hand to it ensuring the Phoenix went into the sheds at half time with their two goal lead.
The second half was a more even affair with both sides creating chances but unable to really trouble either of the goalkeepers. With just over ten minutes remaining, Caspers gave Sydney hope when she halved the deficit. Cohn’s delivery from a corner kick found Caspers unmarked inside the Phoenix penalty area and her powerful header beat the outstretched Neary.
Manaia Elliott came on for the hosts in replace of Kaamila Pickett and was causing trouble down the left-hand side, but Pearson did a brilliant job all game keeping the Phoenix’s main target Makala Woods out of the game. With five minutes remaining, a well worked free kick for the Phoenix resulted in a corner despite appeals for a penalty kick from the Phoenix players and the 1,002 faithful in the stands who, by this time, had their shirts off being twirled around their heads while singing their hearts out. Riley delivered the corner and found Jale at the back post for a simple tap in to secure the three points for the hosts.
Teams: WELLINGTON PHOENIX (4-4-2): Neary, Walker, Pickett, Jale, van der Meer, Erceg, Nunn, Yallop, Clegg, Woods, Riley. Substitutes: Eglinton, Elliott, Main, Barry, Brazendale, Esson, Wall.
Scorers: Riley 6’, Clegg 18’ [PEN], Jale 84’
SYDNEY FC (3-4-1-2): Robertson, Dulaney, Roling, Channing, Pearson, Sullivan, Corbett, Chessari, Caspers, Webber, Cohn. Substitutes: Luchtmeijer, Taylor, Aungle, Croll, Price, Puckett.
Scorers: Caspers 77’
Referee: Caitlin Williams.
Attendance: 1,002.
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