Phoenix women let two-goal lead slip in loss At a glance
This weekend’s defeat in A-League Women wasn’t like the five that came before it for the Wellington Phoenix.
It was worse, because they gave up a well-earned lead in losing 3-2 to Brisbane Roar, and it leaves them with plenty of work to do in the five days before their next outing.
For the first time in almost 600 minutes of action in their inaugural season, the Phoenix went ahead, thanks to Alyssa Whinham and Grace Jale, who both scored in the space of five first-half minutes. But goals to Mariel Hecher and Larissa Crummer either side of halftime pulled the visitors level at WIN Stadium in Wollongong and the Roar always looked the more likely side from there, finally going ahead when Katrina Gorry fired home a late penalty.
Phoenix coach Gemma Lewis was delighted to see her side score for the first time since Ava
Pritchard netted a consolation effort in their second match.
Lewis said some of the Phoenix players had taken the defeat hard in the immediate aftermath, blaming themselves for errors that led to Brisbane’s goals, and she and her staff now have plenty of work ahead of their next match, against Adelaide United, which will take place on Friday.
The young Phoenix squad will be better for the experience, but they will also look at each of the goals they conceded and feel they should have done better, against a Roar side that had already completed one comeback from 2-0 down for its only win of the season to date.
Brisbane Roar 3 (Mariel Hecher 33’, Larissa Crummer 46’, Katrina Gorry pen 86’) Wellington Phoenix 2 (Alyssa Whinham 19’, Grace Jale 24’). HT: 1-2