Wanderers find a sting in the tail to defy a frustrated Phoenix squad late in the game

FOOTBALL

into the lead, and very disappointed to concede the way we did and walk away with only one point.”

Earlier, the Phoenix women continued their underwhelming start to their second season, succumbing to a 3-0 defeat by Canberra United.

Wellington had last week shown signs of resilience against defending champions Melbourne Victory, being edged 1-0 after beginning the campaign with back-to-back 4-1 losses.

But facing another side without a win, the Phoenix were outclassed by Canberra at McKellar Park, committing costly errors that led to each of the home side’s goals.

Former Australia striker Michelle Heyman grabbed a brace on either side of halftime, building on a Grace Maher strike in the ninth minute and condemning the last-placed Phoenix to a fourth straight defeat.

Phoenix head coach Natalie Lawrence was disappointed with the nature of the defeat.

“There’s a lot of disappointment around the team [because] we wanted to move forward from last week and progress, and I think that first half wasn’t a true reflection of the work we’ve done and where the team are at,” Lawrence said post-game.

“We can’t cough up stupid goals like we did for the third because that just kills the game.

“If things had been different and one of those shots had gone in and all of a sudden five minutes into the second half it’s 2-1, then you have a different story.

“But going 3-nil down through our own mistakes killed the game for us.”

The Wellington Phoenix women will return home now to prepare for their first home double-header with the Phoenix men against Adelaide United at Sky Stadium on Saturday.