Phoenix fight past Wanderers to keep finals hopes alive

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Phoenix fight past Wanderers to keep finals hopes alive

A stunning goal from recruit Mebae Tanaka has helped Wellington clinch a comeback 2-1 win over Western Sydney and kept the Phoenix firmly in the A-League Women finals race.

Western Sydney appeared set to extend their winning streak to four when Bronte Trew opened the scoring in the 22nd minute at Porirua Park on Sunday.

But Japanese attacker Tanaka, recruited after impressing in Victoria’s NPLW with Preston, let rip with a wonderful strike in the 75th minute, before Olivia Fergusson scored the winner 11 minutes later.

Eighth-placed Wellington (23 points) are just a point outside the top six with five games to go.

“I’m ecstatic,” Wellington skipper Annalie Longo told Paramount Plus.

“Bit of a roller-coaster game, but I guess to go out there and get the three points … very, very proud of the girls.

“It’s keeping that momentum going.

“We know we want to make finals and we know that every game counts.”

The Wanderers (15 points) are nine points outside the top six.

Western Sydney took the lead when Alivia Kelly didn’t properly judge a back-pass, with her poor touch opening the door for Trew to **** in, pinch the ball and burst forward to score.

Wellington should have equalised on multiple occasions, with Fergusson missing two close-range chances late in the half.

In the 58th minute, Sham Khamis made a superb double save to deny Alyssa Whinham, then Manaia Elliott in quick succession.

Elliott was forced off on the hour mark after copping a ball to the face and Tanaka replaced her.

Fifteen minutes later, a shallow clearance from a corner bobbled out to Tanaka, who turned on to her right and let rip with a wonderful strike into the roof of the net.

In the 86th minute, Talia Younis lost the ball and Zoe McMeeken whipped a cross in to the near post, where Fergusson athletically volleyed home the winner.

“It definitely feels like one that got away from us,” Wanderers skipper Amy Harrison said.

“We dominated most parts of the game and I feel really hard done by to not come away with something.”

Melbourne Victory and Canberra United will face off later on Sunday.

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