Wellington Phoenix Women Held to 1-1 Draw by Newcastle Jets

The Wellington Phoenix Women secured a 1-1 draw against the Newcastle Jets during their A-League Women match at Porirua Park on Sunday. Despite an early lead, the Phoenix were unable to convert opportunities into goals, leaving them frustrated after their second consecutive draw.

Brooke Nunn opened the scoring just three minutes into the match, netting her first goal for the Phoenix thanks to a precise assist from 17-year-old Pia Vlok. The momentum shifted when Newcastle equalized with a penalty awarded in the 23rd minute. The incident arose when Wellington centreback Mackenzie Barry collided with Jets player Lauren Allan, prompting referee Anna-Marie Keighley to point to the penalty spot. Melina Ayres converted the penalty, sending Phoenix goalkeeper Vic Esson the wrong way.

Following the match, Phoenix captain CJ Bott expressed her dissatisfaction with the penalty call, referring to it as “a bit questionable.” She stated, “I don’t think it was one. So we’re pretty unlucky there.” Bott emphasized the team’s disappointment in not being able to score additional goals, stating, “It was just a bit gutting that we couldn’t put any more in the back of the net.”

While the Phoenix remain unbeaten in the league, they have yet to secure a victory under coach Ben Priestman, who noted that the team created enough opportunities to win. Priestman praised Vlok’s performance and referred to her as “what a talent,” highlighting her promising future after her confident debut.

Injuries compounded the Phoenix’s challenges during the match. They lost Nepalese striker Sabitra Bhandari before the match and saw Alyssa Whinham leave the field in the second half due to injury, visibly in pain as she hobbled off.

Newcastle coach Stephen Hoyle returned to New Zealand having played national league football in the country and expressed satisfaction with the result. He brought four New Zealand players to the match, including goalkeeper Anna Leat, who made a crucial save in the second half to maintain the tie.

The match saw a series of missed opportunities for the Phoenix. Grace Jale, who had previously scored nine goals for the Football Ferns, failed to convert a promising chance set up by Bott. Whinham later rounded Leat but could not finish, while Nunn had a chance to extend the lead early in the second half but pushed her effort wide.

Despite the draw, the Phoenix’s performance showcased potential. Nunn’s dynamic play, including a strong break near the end, highlighted her contributions as the team’s standout performer. However, substitute Manaia Elliott could not capitalize on a chance created by Nunn under pressure from former Phoenix player Claudia Cicco.

With this draw, the Wellington Phoenix have recorded two wins, one draw, and five losses in eight matches against the Jets since 2021. As they prepare for their next challenge, the team will aim to translate their efforts into a solid victory.