Melbourne crash Phoenix’s party

Melbourne City crashed Wellington Phoenix’s homecoming party with a comprehensive 4-1 win in the first A-League Women match to be played on New Zealand soil.

The first round match was played before a record of 5213 fans – the largest attendance for a standalone regular season game.

But the home side was unable to rise to the occasion against one of the strongest teams in the league, soundly beaten after shipping four second-half goals thanks to a masterclass from City striker Maria Jose Rojas.

The Phoenix pulled one back when Ava Pritchard, the scorer of their first A-League Women goal last season, forced an own goal in the 81st minute.

Pritchard rifled the ball through a crowd of bodies after pouncing on the loose ball at a corner-kick, and the final touch came off City’s Kaitlin Torpey.

But the damage was already done by then.

After a goalless first half, City took full control of the match when they struck twice inside the first five minutes of the second half.

City broke the deadlock in the 48th minute when Rojas teed up Bryleeh Henry at the back post after dribbling around Phoenix captain Kate Taylor.

The late injury replacement for

GETTY IMAGES Wellington Phoenix’s Paige Satchell is tackled by Katie Bowen, of Melbourne City, during the round one A-League Women’s match at Sky Stadium in Wellington yesterday.

Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper Brianna Edwards makes a save during yesterday’s match.