Manaia Elliott came to the rescue with a 90th-minute equaliser to help Wellington Phoenix salvage a 1-1 draw against Melbourne Victory in the Ninja A-League.
CommBank Matildas pair Emily Gielnik and Alex Chidiac returned for Victory and the home side looked set to claim maximum points thanks to Alana Jancevski’s 51st-minute penalty on Friday night.
However, 19-year-old super-sub Elliott came off the bench to score a dramatic late equaliser at the Home of the Matildas.
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While the Phoenix have never beaten Victory in six attempts, they did avoid defeat and prevent the title hopefuls from going top of the table.
Victory are level on points with reigning premiers Melbourne City but adrift on goal difference, while Wellington are eighth and a point outside the top six.
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Golden Boot leader Gielnik and Chidiac made their way back into Victory’s starting XI following the recent four-game international series against Brazil and Chinese Taipei.
Victory dictated proceedings from the outset – boasting 70% possession in the first half – and Jancevski nearly broke the deadlock in the third minute after stinging the palms of Wellington goalkeeper Carolina Vilao.
Vilao was kept busy inside the opening five minutes after two producing two important saves.
While the home side looked in relative control, the Phoenix almost hit the front against the run of play in the 22nd minute.
Alyssa Whinham produced a great turn to create an opening a one-v-one situation but Victory goalkeeper Courtney Newbon came out on top to deny Wellington the opener.
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Victory hit the front six minutes into the second half when Janceski stepped up to convert a penalty after Nickoletta Flannery was fouled inside the area – moments after Gielnik had forced a save from Vilao.
Just as Victory were edging closer to another win and top spot in the competition, Wellington teenager Elliott popped up with a powerful header to frustrate the hosts at the death.
