Phoenix women beaten in A-League final
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- 2 min read
The Wellington Phoenix women's season has ended with a heavy A-League Grand Final defeat.
In their 100th A-League game, the Phoenix were beaten by Melbourne City 3-1 away at AAMI Park to hand the Premiers' Plate winners another trophy.
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The first half was nervy for the visitors as they took some time to settle, but improved to cahllenge their opponents in the second spell.
It was the first time the Phoenix played playoff football and City's experience at this end of the season showed, as the club won a fifth championship title - and the first since 2020.
The video assistant referee (VAR) was available for the first time in a women's A-League final and was called on less than five minutes into the match, when a review was required to determine if Phoenix goalkeeper Vic Esson had fouled a City player, but no penalty was given.
City who were captained by Football Fern Rebekah Stott continued to test the Phoenix defence and nearly had the first goal of the game in the 36th minute, but the competition's leading goalscorer, Holly McNamara, was ruled offside.
Australian international McNamara did get her first goal since February - and her 13th of the season - with a looping shot that cleared Esson to take a 1-0 lead in the 40th minute. One minute later, she had her second goal and City were ahead 2-0 at the break.
Leticia McKenna scored City's third goal four minutes into the second half, as the hosts did not let up.
The Phoenix claimed a consolation goal, when striker Makala Woods pounced on a rebound of a save in the 52nd minute.
The final half hour saw a flurry of Wellington chances as the Phoenix tried desperately to claw back a result, but City prevailed to secure their first championship since 2020.
