The only way is up insists captain Chloe Knott after Wellington Phoenix humbled Canberra United 5-0 for their first win of the Liberty A-League season.
The Phoenix were winless and boasting just one point heading into their ninth match of the campaign, however, Wellington ended that drought with a five-star performance at Sky Stadium on Sunday.
A Betsy Hassett double, and goals from Milly Clegg and Ava Pritchard to go with a Emma Ilijoski own goal gave the Phoenix – who had only scored three goals in 2022-23 before Sunday – their first ever win on home soil.
“We love that winning feeling and we just more of it now. Every week we’re going to be chasing that feeling of getting a win,” Knott told Sky Sport New Zealand, with the Phoenix three points adrift at the bottom of the table.
It’s only up from here.
The Phoenix showed no mercy as they celebrated their first Liberty A-League victory since beating Canberra 3-0 in February last year.
Wellington led 2-0 at half-time before putting the sixth-placed visitors to the sword in the second 45 minutes.
“Honestly, I can’t even put it into words. Just the most amazing feeling. I’m so proud of the team,” Knott said.
We have been waiting for this one. All the weeks have been building up to it and finally, everything fell into place for us.
“It’s been coming for us. We were waiting for all the final-third stuff to click.”
On Saturday, Phoenix trio Paige Satchell, Mackenzie Barry and Grace Wisnewski took to Eden Park in New Zealand’s 5-0 loss to the United States.
Barely 24 hours later, they were involved for the triumphant Phoenix.
Knott added: “It’s been such an amazing week for them and we were so proud of them.
“We talked a lot about them bringing their energy and they really did. They showed up for us today. It was amazing all round.”
REPORT – AAP
Wellington Phoenix broke their Liberty A League drought in spectacular fashion, with a 5-0 home drubbing of Canberra United at Sky Stadium.
The Phoenix had picked up only one point and scored just three goals in their eight previous games this season, but banged in three in five minutes either side of half-time and two more late in Sunday’s match.
Football Ferns player Betsy Hassett netted twice with Milly Clegg, Ava Pritchard and an Emma Ilijoski own goal completing the scoring.
Phoenix dominated the first half against a Canberra side coming off successive wins, but had to wait until the 42nd minute for their first goal.
Michaela Foster’s inswinging corners caused Canberra plenty of problems and one of them led to the opener.
Paige Satchell, backing up from international duty against the United States on Saturday, had a header from a Foster corner cleared off the line by Laura Hughes, but an alert Clegg volleyed in from close range.
Phoenix doubled their lead in the 45th minute from a deadly counter attack.
Pritchard put Clegg through and when her shot was parried by Canberra goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln, Hassett tapped the loose ball In from close range
Wellington increased their lead a minute into the second half when Prichard volleyed in a fine Foster cross.
Canberra squandered a great chance to get a toehold in the game in the 64th minute when Phoenix goalkeeper Brianna Edwards saved a Vesna Milivojevic penalty awarded after a handball by Wellington captain Chloe Knott.
Edwards denied Michelle Heyman a couple of minutes later when the Canberra captain made a surging run into the penalty area, only to have the Phoenix custodian whip the ball off her foot as she closed in on goal.
Wellington piled on the torment with Hassett scoring from an Isabel Gomez throughball in the 83rd minute and Ilijoski unfortunately putting the ball into her own net from close range just before the end.
Wellington’s late first-half goals were deserved reward for their dominance In the first 45 minutes when they had far more chances than the visitors.
A vicious inswinging corner from Foster hit the top of the crossbar and Clegg rounded Lincoln but put her shot wide.
Canberra fashioned a couple of first-half opportunities with Milivojevic’s close range attempt blocked by Edwards their best chance.
