Sensational performances from Mariana Speckmaier and Rylee Foster have inspired Wellington Phoenix to a 2-0 victory over Newcastle Jets at Sky Stadium.
Speckmaier slotted a first-half penalty, before turning provider for Hope Breslin minutes later, helping Wellington return to the winner’s list after consecutive games without a victory – including last weekend’s disappointing late collapse to Adelaide United.
Foster – meanwhile – was unbeatable between the sticks, making a number of quality saves throughout the game on Saturday afternoon to preserve the three points. The former Liverpool goalkeeper also played on for the final 20-odd minutes after an injury scare.
Paul Temple’s side remain in third place on the standings, but the win has cut the deficit between the ‘Nix and league leaders Perth Glory to a single point – which could change depending on the result in tonight’s Melbourne Derby between City and Victory.
Meanwhile, Newcastle fall out of the top six as a result of the defeat and both Western and Sydney FC getting results on Friday.
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Temple made a fascinating alteration to his starting lineup for the contest, opting to play natural full-back Michaela Foster in midfield, and moving Macey Fraser further forward to play as a false nine.
The Jets, on the other hand, began life without Matildas star Emily van Egmond after her four game guest stint came to an end last weekend, with her dad, Gary, recalling Libby Copus-Brown to the starting XI, along with Mindy Barbieri.
Newcastle, in fact, started the stronger of the two teams as both Cassidy Davis and Sophie Hoban had long range attempts batted away by Rylee Foster.
As the first-half wore on, Wellington started to gain a foothold of the contest, and it was Fraser causing headaches in the final third. The Phoenix star dazzled her way past two Jets defenders, before playing it towards Speckmaier and Breslin, but neither could get their attempts on goal.
Once again, Newcastle threatened back the other way, as Copus-Brown rocketed an effort from the edge of the area, but her strike was denied once again by Foster – who continued an impressive opening half.
And Wellington finally capitalised on Foster’s brilliance back the other way.
Speckmaier fired a shot on goal, which was blocked and fell into the path of both Breslin and Josephine Wilson, but the latter caught the American attacker as she lunged for the ball just inside the area, and a penalty was awarded immediately.
The Venezuelan international stepped up and smashed her penalty into the back of the net, scoring her third goal of the season.
Minutes later, the lead was two, as Speckmaier broke down the left-hand side, worked her way through a couple Jets defenders before cutting it back to Breslin who tapped home Wellington’s second.
But the Wellington striker wasn’t done causing problems. Speckmaier once again burst past the Jets defence, and only had Nino to beat, but the Newcastle shotstopper did brilliantly to deny the red-hot attacker.
Wellington kept Newcastle at bay for much of the second-half, until Emma Dundas did brilliantly to tee up Copus-Brown at the back post, but once again Foster was on hand to deny the Jets midfielder with a brilliant stop.
The Canadian goalkeeper was ginger after making the save, but thankfully was able to play out the rest of the match after receiving treatment during a lengthy stoppage, as Wellington hung on to their fifth win of the campaign.
The talking point
Wellington Phoenix were made to rue wastefulness in-front of goal and defensive errors in their loss to Adelaide United, so a turn in fortunes at both ends was a welcome sight for Paul Temple.
Phoenix were scintillating going forward, with Mariana Speckmaier linking up brilliantly alongside Hope Breslin, who were afforded plenty of space out wide and centrally as a result of Macey Fraser shifting further forward to play as a false nine.
Back the other way, there were no defensive mishaps against a dangerous Jets attack, as Rylee Foster atoned for her first mistake last weekend with an incredible performance between the sticks.
The star
Mariana Speckmaier’s brilliant first-half was the catalyst for Wellington’s win on Saturday afternoon.
The Phoenix striker scored her first goal since Round 3, when she slammed home the opener from the spot, before teeing up Hope Breslin after a mazy run for their second of the game.
“I think when Mariana’s going one on one down the goal line, you know that she’s going to beat her defender,” Breslin said post-game on Sky Sports New Zealand.
“I just knew that I had to be in the right spot and she was going to find me.”
Prior to that, she showed some brilliant skill to burn past Jets defender Josephine Wilson in the first-half.
Her emphatically taken penalty had a bit of extra significance too.
“[It’s an] early Christmas and birthday (present),” she said about the goal, with her 26th birthday falling on Boxing Day.
“Normally, I like to just look at the keeper and see if she’s going to cheat at all.
“I saw her step right. Well, her left, my right and I went the other way. She made it easy for me!”
What this means
It was a much-needed win for Wellington Phoenix after a disappointing loss to Adelaide United a week earlier.
Paul Temple’s side are now knocking on the door of the top two after the win, heading into a huge clash against reigning Liberty A-League double winners Sydney FC on Friday night.
Meanwhile, Newcastle drop out of the top six as their wait for consecutive wins this season drags on for a little longer.
The Jets, however, play the league’s two bottom sides – Adelaide United and Canberra United – at home in their next couple of matches, before facing Brisbane Roar who are without a win in seven matches.
