Phoenix women take victory over Melbourne
- editor59343
- 6 hours ago
- 1 min read
The Phoenix women have moved up to fifth on the A-League table thanks to a 38th-minute goal from teenage star Pia Vlok.
The Wellington side accounted for league heavyweights Melbourne Victory 1-0 at Porirua Park on Sunday afternoon in their third match of the 2025/26 season.
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Head coach Bev Priestman made one enforced change to the starting XI with Football Fern Manaia Elliott replacing Alyssa Whinham, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last Sunday.
Eighteen-year-old reserves team forward Grace Bartlett was named amongst the substitutes for the first time.
But it was Vlok who starred with her goal giving her the record of youngest scorer for the Phoenix women, beating Milly Clegg's record by one day.
The 17-year-old netted from the back post, after a sweeping move downfield from the Phoenix attack.
Vlok's heroics in her second start for Wellington secured the team's first win of their campaign after two earlier draws.
She made her debut against Newcastle last week, impressing coach Bev Priestman enough to earn a second successive start.
Originally from Auckland, Vlok, signed a three-year deal with Wellington last August.
The Wellington Phoenix will return to action after next week’s trans-Tasman internationals with a trip to last season’s premiers Melbourne City December 7. .
