Source: Radio New Zealand
Pia Vlok of the Wellington Phoenix (file photo) photosport
The Wellington Phoenix have all but secured a place in the women’s A-League finals after recovering from conceding an early goal to beat Sydney FC 3-1.
Down 1-0 after five minutes, teenage forward Pia Vlok found an equaliser for the visitors soon afterwards on her return from concussion before defenders Marisa van der Meer and Brooke Nunn scored in the second half.
A ninth win for the season lifts coach Bev Priestman’s team to second place The team’s record-equalling ninth win of the season lifts the Phoenix to second on the table, three points behind Melbourne City, with a game in hand.
With three matches remaining in the regular season, they still have a shot at taking the top seeding into the play-offs.
Their 31 competition points from 17 matches is a club record, three more than their previous best return in the 2023-24 campaign, which was from 22 matches.
Phoenix head coach Bev Priestman Marty Melville / PHOTOSPORT
Priestman wasn’t getting carried away, however, describing the performance as “a bit of a mixed bag”.
“At the end of the day to score three goals [and] get three points on the road against what I felt was a much improved Sydney side … I’ve got to be happy with the outcome,” Priestman she said.
“Did we make it a painful process and got in our own way? I think so, but … I think that’s the first time we’ve come back from going a goal down to getting three points.
“At the end of the day good teams can do that.”
Priestman said she hadn’t turned her attentions to the premiership race, instead focusing on a midweek catch-up match away to Central Coast Mariners.
The Phoenix will stay in New South Wales for the match in Gosford on Wednesday.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
