Phoenix let two-goal lead slip in painful defeat
The Wellington Phoenix were able to dream of a first A-League Women win – or a second point – for large stretches of yesterday’s match against Brisbane Roar, but ultimately suffered their sixth defeat in a row.
Goals from Alyssa Whinham and Grace Jale gave them a 2-0 lead after 25 minutes at their WIN Stadium home in Wollongong, but the scores were level a minute after the break as the visitors came to life.
Goalkeeper Lily Alfeld did well to keep the Phoenix in the contest as they faded at the attacking end in the second half, but she couldn’t stop Australian international Katrina Gorry’s late penalty which gave Brisbane their second comeback win of the season and the home side its most painful defeat yet.
The Phoenix’s search for a second point and a first win in their inaugural season goes on, but this performance shows they should have more good chances against the likes of Canberra United, Perth Glory, and Western Sydney Wanderers, who they drew with in their openingmatch.
It looked like the Roar might go ahead early when they won a penalty in the 16th minute. Forward
Mariel Hecher went down after getting tangled up with left back Talitha Kramer, but Alfeld was up to the challenge of saving Larissa Crummer’s penalty, diving to her left. She then had to stay alert to save as Gorry followed up.
The Phoenix took the lead just three minutes after it, when the Roar turned the ball over while trying to build from the back.
It took a deflection off Ava
Pritchard which fell to Grace Wisnewski in the box, whose cross was blocked into the path of Whinham, who showed good composure to wriggle free of the defence and curl her shot home.
The Phoenix quickly found themselves two goals to the good, when Jale sent a glancing header goalward from a Chloe Knott corner five minutes later.
The Phoenix had Te Reremoana Walker starting at centre back in place of Mackenzie Barry, who was absent injured, and while she was generally tidy, she was caught on the ball by Crummer just after the half-hour mark as the Roar hit back.
After winning the ball,
Crummer played Hecher in down the right, and the Brazilian had plenty of time and space to finish past Alfeld, and the Roar then finished the half strongly, with Gorry forcing the Phoenix keeper to palm away a shot from distance in stoppage time.
Substitute Saskia Vosper turned the ball over a minute into the second half, allowing the Roar to counter-attack down the right through a substitute of their own, Cannon Clough, whose cross from the right wasn’t dealt with, falling at Crummer’s feet for a simple close-range finish.
In the final half hour, it was more so the Roar who pushed on for a winner.