Wellington Phoenix open A-League wih win, loss
A win and a loss for Phoenix teams in their opening games o the A-League seasons in Wellington.
The men defeated Melbourne Victory 2-1, but the women's team lost to Melbourne City 2-1 continuing their record of no wins in ten attempts against their opponents.
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For the men it was Riley Bidois who scored with his first touch after coming on as a substitute to give the Nix a late lead at Hnry Stadium.
Corban Piper had already struck early on before Victory equalised to ensure the match was level at the break.
Head coach Chris Greenacre called on five new signings from the start, with Henry Gray, Bryce Duke, Max Anderson, Rafael Durán and James McGarry in the eleven.
He was forced into a late change as captain Alex Rufer was ruled out with illness, meaning uncontracted academy midfielder Luke Mitchell was also given a surprise start.
The defining moment came in the 77th minute, when Greenacre made his final change, bringing Mitchell off for Riley Bidois.
The former academy striker could hardly have dreamed of a better start, as less than a minute after entering he ran onto a Walker cross and duly converted.
The Nix did well to see it out fairly comfortably from there, Bill Tuiloma and Lukas Kelly-Heald remaining rock-solid at the back while Gray was imperious with his aerial command.
The Wellington Phoenix men are back in action next Sunday at Hnry Stadium, when they take on Central Coast Mariners.
The women's team took the lead in the second half of their game, but two set-piece goals for City condemned them to a 2-1 opening day defeat at Hnry Stadium.
The Nix dominated much of the possession and territory throughout the game, but fell away late on.
It marks the tenth time the Nix have tasted defeat against this opposition from ten attempts.
Bev Priestman named three new signings in her starting XI, with Abby Erceg, Tameka Yallop, and Indiah-Paige Riley all getting the nod.
Erceg showed off her muscle when making a last-ditch challenge on Aideen Keane, who had slalomed past three other black shirts.
The Nix pinned City into their own area and were almost rewarded when Pia Vlok’s low shot on the turn fizzed just past the post.
The best chance of the half fell to Makala Woods in the 31st minute.
When fed in behind by Riley, the American struck her shot fiercely but saw it rebound off the far post.
From there the game slowed until halftime, with Wellington still enjoying the bulk of possession.
It didn’t take long for Woods to get her customary goal as she gave the Nix the lead in the 51st minute.
Vlok’s cross almost found Yallop at the back post, and seemed to strike a City hand. Woods made any appeal irrelevant as she swept home on the bounce.
There was almost an instant response from City, who saw Ellie Walker clear off the line following a free kick from wide.
The whistle had gone for a foul on Vic Esson, but it was still a spectacular piece of defending from the centre-back.
Priestman turned to her bench in the 67th minute, bringing on Emma Taylor-Main for Manaia Elliott.
Taylor-Main was involved early on but at the wrong end, as she clipped Taylor Ray in the box and the referee pointed to the spot.
Melina Ayres converted the penalty despite Esson getting a hand to the shot.
From there it was regular City pressure as the Nix started to tire.
Priestman made a triple change in the 80th minute, bringing off Football Ferns Mackenzie Barry, Grace Jale, and Riley, who were short of match sharpness after returning early from international duty in Panama.
In their place came Lara Wall, Marisa van der Meer, and Alyssha Eglinton, who was making her professional debut.
Erceg nearly snatched the lead back when she got her head to a ball at the back post, Mieres just doing enough to turn it behind.
And the Nix were punished for their profligacy in the 87th minute, when Wall gave away a free kick right on the edge of the area.
It was the last meaningful action of the game before the full-time whistle blew.
The team now turn their attention to their game against Melbourne Victory next Sunday at Hnry Stadium in another double-header with the men’s team.
