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221124
Wellington Score Deserved First Win Of Season
by Jeremy Ruane
Wellington Phoenix recorded their maiden Ninja A-League win of the 2024-25 season at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium in Sydney on 22 November, deservedly overcoming Adelaide United 1-0 in front of 878 fans, with those making the most noise supporting the winning side.
Having spent the week in Sydney after their frustrating loss at Newcastle Jets last Sunday, Paul Temple's squad started strongly, Maya McCutcheon picking out Alyssa Whinham, whose cross found Olivia Ingham - chosen ahead of both Emma Main and Grace Jale - racing in off the left flank. Her shot was turned round the post by United goalkeeper Claudia Jenkins just ninety seconds after the game had commenced.
That set the tone for a solid start by Wellington, despite Zoe McMeeken dicing with danger in the first ten minutes, during which she twice committed fouls in the space of a minute which had referee Isabella Morrin administering the "next one's a booking" message.
Adelaide first threatened in the thirteenth minute, Emily Condon spotting the far post run of Erin Healy and delivering a cross which lured Carolina Vilao out of goal. She spilled the sphere, allowing Healy a half-chance which she fired against the outside of the upright from an acute angle.
Six minutes later, Vilao's distribution was to the fore, as she sent Mebae Tanaka away down the right. Her cross picked out Ingham, who set up Olivia Fergusson for a shot which lacked the power to trouble Jenkins.
The arm wrestle for control of the game continued, referee Morrin letting a lot of challenges - perhaps a few too many, in hindsight - go which, in another game, would likely see a whistle-happy referee earning the ire of fans for frequently disrupting the flow of the contest. It's a fine line, and by and large, Morrin judged it well.
Matilda McNamara foiled Fergusson after she had got the better of Ella Tonkin just shy of the half-hour mark, after which Alyssa Whinham came desperately close to breaking the deadlock. Lara Wall's cross fell kindly for the playmaker, who, after seeing her first shot blocked, unleashed a rising drive which Jenkins tipped over the bar.
Back came Adelaide, Emily Hodgson racing to the by-line in the 35th minute before fizzing in a cross which zoomed across the bows of the incoming Healy, while five minutes later, Fiona Worts sent a snapshot from the edge of the penalty area inches over the bar after combining with Lucia de Leon.
Wellington piled on the pressure before the interval as they sought the opening goal. McCutcheon sent one sizzling past the post after McMeeken and Tanaka had combined on the right, while Jenkins was forced to paw away a McCutcheon cross after she had caught Tonkin in possession in Adelaide's penalty area.
Fine work by Tanaka on the right in the 44th minute went unrewarded due to Ingham's poor touch, while Wall thundered a twenty-yarder narrowly past the post seconds later after Ingham
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had turned McCutcheon's cleared cross into the fullback's stride.
With the very last touch of the ball in the first half, Wellington opened the scoring - due reward for their persistence. Tanaka's teasing free-kick was cleared to Whinham, whose shot deflected to the feet of Fergusson, six yards out from goal.
The striker didn't get great purchase on her effort, but it mattered not, for the ball's flight was perfect for McCutcheon to head home from point-blank range, a goal which delighted the Wellington players and their jubilant support crew, with whom they were celebrating as the half-time whistle blew.
Adelaide piled on the pressure in search of a second half equaliser, but Wellington rebuffed them at every turn. Superb work by the imperious Mackenzie Barry snuffed out their opening effort after Hodgson and de Leon had combined on the right, while Vidal saved at the feet of Healy soon afterwards as the winger looked to work a one-two with Condon after catching Daisy Brazendale in possession.
The prolific Worts fired over from ten yards after more good work by Hodgson in the 54th minute, while two minutes later the striker just failed to catch Vidal in possession as she fielded a back-pass inside the penalty area.
Healy looked to set up Worts for another chance just after the hour mark, but the retreating figure of Tiana Jaber combined with Vidal to snuff out that threat, prompting Wellington to introduce three players who were dropped from last week's starting line-up, one of whom was involved in the action immediately.
McMeeken pinged a 66th minute ball over the top which sent Main storming through the middle with three defenders in her wake and just Jenkins to beat. The 'keeper stood her ground superbly to prevent what would almost certainly have been the 'game over' goal.
Instead, Adelaide continued to pound away in search of an equaliser, but Wellington shut every gate, manned every barricade and effectively said "Thou shalt not pass" in response. United failed to create any clear-cut openings for the remainder of the match, which doubtless contributed to Healy's unwarranted charge into the leaping figure of Vidal in stoppage time, a frustrated reaction which left the 'keeper nursing sort ribs for the final minutes.
Despite that pain, she was smiling when the final whistle sounded, along with her Wellington team-mates as they celebrated their first win of the season, one their efforts richly deserved.
Adelaide: Jenkins; Tolland (Bowler, 81), Tonkin (booked, 90), McNamara, Hodgson (booked, 45); Condon (Mullan, 74), Dewey (Karambasis, 61), Morgan; de Leon (Grigg, 74), Worts, Healy
Wellington: Vidal; McMeeken, Jaber, Barry, Wall; Tanaka (Elliott, 64), McCutcheon, Whinham (McMillan, 76), Brazendale, Ingham (Jale, 64); Fergusson (Main, 64)
Referee: Isabella Morrin
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