Western Sydney Wanderers and their hopes of playing in the Liberty A-League finals remain faint but they are still alive after holding off Wellington Phoenix 1-0.
Sophie Harding’s 40th-minute goal led the Wanderers past bottom side Wellington in Western Sydney on Sunday.
It was Western Sydney’s first ever win over the Phoenix as they moved up to seventh in the standings, eight points behind fourth-placed Melbourne Victory with five games to play.
The Wanderers had the best of the early exchanges and monopolised territory and possession, but that wasn’t accompanied by many high-quality chances at Wanderers Football Park.
Harding had a chance to break the deadlock just past the half-hour mark but was just unable to stretch out to turn home Amy Harrison’s ball to the top of the six-yard box.
Fortunately for the 23-year-old, she didn’t wait long to make amends, rising unchallenged to meet a Harrison corner in the 40th minute to glance a header home.
Finals long since a bridge too far, the Kiwis are now engaged in a battle to avoid a second-successive wooden spoon and are five points back of second-bottom Newcastle with a game in hand.Â
Natalie Lawrence’s side will at least be able to build upon an improved second stanza in these efforts.
Emily Clegg and Grace Wisnewski both shot from range early in the half, before Paige Satchell sent a header from a corner over the bar just before the hour.
Then just seconds remaining, a frantic attack teed Clegg up for a last-second leveller, only for Wanderer keeper Jordyn Bloomer to prove up to the task of denying her and saving the Wanderers’ win.
