Our City women travelled to Wellington over the weekend and took home the three points, but it was far from easy. The league decided to treat us to a Grand Final rematch for the first game of the season, and Wellington did not look keen to let us get another one over them.
The game opened with both sides fighting for the ball, with the momentum swinging back and forth, but I believe Wellington had the better of the play and chances. The post kept City in the game after a well struck hit by Makala Woods in the 31st minute.
After half-time, Wellington quickly got on the scoresheet, but this didn’t prompt us to change our gameplan. Instead, we remained on the back foot, with Malena Mieres coming in clutch with a dominant display of control in her box and making some wonderful saves. Mieres boasted three saves and five collections of the high ball, displaying her dominance that we have been blessed with since 2024.
Eventually, in the 73rd minute, new signing Taylor Ray was taken down in the box, and Melina Ayres converted the penalty. If I were a Wellington supporter, I’d have felt hard done by that penalty call. Though the contact was there, Ray certainly made the most of it and we were lucky to be handed a brilliant opportunity from the spot. Ayres lacked conviction with her penalty but it was enough to get past the outstretched hand of Victoria Esson, and City were back level against the run of play.
City seem to be in the teething process after the squad was heavily reshuffled due to the loss of Taylor Otto, Holly McNamara and Laura Hughes to name a few. Bringing in new signings, no matter their quality, may take a few weeks before the wheels start turning and we see our girls hit some form. Therefore it felt like we had stolen a point in an otherwise difficult game, but up steps Momo Hayashi.
Momo began the play, finding yet another new signing Kelli McGroarty with a lovely long ball, who flicked the ball over her defender and won a free kick in a position that is often too close for the ball to go up and over the wall. However, Wellington keeper Esson made a mistake. A wall is meant to protect one side of the goal while the keeper covers the other, yet Esson decided to stand on the same side of the wall, handing Momo the perfect opportunity to find the far side of the netting; and WOW, did she find it. Momo smashed the ball goal-bound and it was too strong for the recovering Esson, flying into the side netting, completing the comeback and breaking Phoenix hearts.
What can we take from this game? Our Spanish goalkeeper Mieres is going to be crucial in the title defence and to shore up our goal when the AFC Women’s Champions League starts in just a couple of weeks’ time. One thing to watch for will be how long it takes for this team to gel as the season gets underway. Will we hit the ground running against Sydney, or will there be more hiccups leading to a tight game?
We take on Sydney FC away from home on Sunday the 25th of October in our last A-League fixture before beginning our Champions League run. Unfortunately Princess Ibini won’t make her debut as she continues to build her fitness, but we have more than enough firepower to take down Sydney.
FT: 2-1 win against Wellington
POTM: Momo Hayashi
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