By Anna Harrington and Jasper Bruce
Wellington Phoenix have rallied from a goal down to hand ladder-leading Perth Glory their first loss of the season in a 2-1 A-League Women victory.
The Phoenix’s first ALW win over the Glory came after Western Sydney scored a 2-0 upset defeat of Western United – their first victory of the season.
Glory fell to the Phoenix in their first loss of the season.Credit: Perth Glory FC
Wellington went into halftime down 1-0 in Auckland on Sunday, staring at the possibility of back-to-back defeats after failing to capitalise on early momentum.
Most notably, Venezuelan forward Mariana Speckmaier could not connect with Hope Breslin’s cross in the final seconds of the half to score what would have been a certain goal.
But the hosts had no such execution issues after the break.
The Phoenix equalised only three minutes after the resumption when Manaia Elliott dispossessed Elizabeth Anton on the wing and sparked a quick counter-attack that put them on the board through Breslin.
Just after the hour mark, Chloe Knott headed the ball to goal after Speckmaier’s own attempt had bounced from the crossbar.
The Glory were in the wars during the second half; Claudia Mihocic went off following a head knock, while Hana Lowry copped a ball in the nose but played on with tissue in her nose to stem the bleeding.
Millie Farrow had the Glory’s only goal after 21 minutes, managing to get a foot to the ball as she fell between defenders Marisa van der Meer and Hailey Davidson on a charge through the area.
In the early game, Sophie Harding pinched the ball off United goalkeeper Hillary Beall in the 82nd minute at City Vista Reserve, with Cushla Rue adding a second 11 minutes later.
Robbie Hooker’s first win at the helm also snapped a nasty streak: Western Sydney had gone 20 games away from Wanderers Football Park without a win.
The victory lifts them to four points and ninth on the table, while United (seven points) sit seventh.
United racked up 16 shots (six on target) to Western Sydney’s 14 (six on target) but were left to rue failing to take their chances in a game where they dominated possession.
Mark Torcaso’s United also lost forward Kahli Johnson to injury in the 33rd minute, but said her substitution was for precautionary reasons.
Johnson’s replacement, Keiwa Hieda, forced good saves from Wanderers goalkeeper Shamiran Khamis in the 45th and 75th minutes before the visitors snatched the lead out of nowhere.
Beall received a backpass from Alana Cerne and took a touch with her left foot and her head down, failing to spot the onrushing Harding.
The Western Sydney striker pinched the ball away as Beall prepared to kick with her right boot, leaving the ’keeper on the floor as she scored her third goal in two games.
Khamis was brave in the 86th minute to come out and collect a dangerous ball from Chloe Logarzo.
Minutes later, as United pressed for an equaliser, the Wanderers sealed victory.
Holly Caspers won the ball in the middle of the park and slipped through Rue with a wonderful through-ball.
The attacker beat United’s defence for pace and coolly iced the game.
-AAP
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