Wellington Phoenix snapped their five-game winless run in style on Sunday afternoon, coming from a goal down to defeat in-form Western Sydney Wanderers 2-1 at Porirua Park.
Despite starting well Wellington found themselves behind in the 22nd minute as Bronte Trew capitalised on some hesitation at the back to tap home her second goal of the season.
The home side had a plethora of chances both before and after the break however Wanderers keeper Sham Khamis was in fine form as she kept the Nix at bay.
However, there was nothing Khamis could do to prevent the equaliser as second-half substitute Mebae Tanaka lashed home a thunderous strike from inside the box to make it 1-1 in the 75th minute.
Having found the equaliser the home side then duly bagged a deserved winner; English forward Olivia Fergusson finding the back of the net with a good finish from inside the box having wasted several good chances throughout the match.
The come-from-behind win snaps the Phoenix’s five-game baron run and, crucially, now moves them to within a point of sixth-placed Central Coast Mariners.
As for the Wanderers, Geoff Abrahams’ side miss out on the chance to make it four-straight wins in the Ninja A-League with the defeat also now giving them a mountain to climb when it comes to securing finals football this season.
Out to make amends following last week’s home loss to Adelaide, Wellington started brightly and fashioned the game’s first chance in the 8th minute; full-back Lara Wall seeing her fizzing low effort fly narrowly past the far post.
Whilst they were being dominated in the early stages the Wanderers will feel as though they should have taken the lead in the 20th minute.
Capitalising on some confusion amongst the Phoenix defence, the Wanderers found themselves baring down on goal however Nix goalkeeper Carolina Vilao was equal to Sienna Saveska’s powerful effort from the edge of the box.
However, whilst the opposition couldn’t take their opportunity on that occasion it wasn’t long before they broke the deadlock.
Put under pressure by the press from Trew, defender Alivia Kelly got her wires crossed with Vilao as both players attempted to clear the ball but neither was able to do so which gave Trew the simplest of tap-ins in the 22nd minute.
Responding well, Wellington saw a glorious chance go begging less than 10 minutes later as Emma Main blazed over the bar from close range.
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Wellington then had two good chances to level things up before the break but unfortunately for the home side, striker Olivia Fergusson couldn’t capitalise on either.
The first saw the English striker hit the post from close range after she was left completely unmarked inside the six-yard box before she then found the side-netting after she was picked out by Annalie Longo.
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Now upping the ante in search of the equaliser Wanderers goalkeeper Sham Khamis was forced into two solid saves in the 58th minute minute as she first parried away an Alyssa Whinham effort before brilliant tipping the follow-up from Manaia Elliott around the post.
However, Khamis was beaten all ends up in the 75th minute thanks to a moment of magic from substitute Tanaka.
Waiting patiently on the edge of the Wanderers’ area, Tanaka collected the loose ball from a Wellington corner and having taken a touch to steady herself, duly thumped her strike beyond the diving Khamis to make it 1-1.
Having clawed their way back into the game the home side then set about finding a winner and Fergusson again couldn’t apply the finishing touch to a dangerous ball whipped into the Wanderers’ box.
However the English forward finally made her mark on the contest, volleying home from inside the box in the 86th minute to send Porirua Park into raptures.
Now scrambling to find a late equaliser, Wanderers threw everything forward in an attempt to score their second but the home side held on to secure a vital win in their push to secure finals football.
To cap it all off, the win for the Phoenix also sees them retain the ‘Sister Cities Cup’ – a trophy honouring the relationship between Blacktown City and Porirua which goes back more than 40 years.
