Phoenix impress but have to settle for draw with Brisbane

Shea Connors of Brisbane Roar and Mackenzie Barry of the Phoenix.
Photo: Photosport

The Wellington Phoenix have been forced to share the spoils with Brisbane Roar, despite producing one of their best performances in the women’s A-League.

The Phoenix have conceded a late equaliser to draw 1-1 in Wellington on Saturday after leading 1-0 at halftime.

Centre back Marisa van der Meer put the hosts in front midway through the first-half and they were the dominant side for the majority of the contest, with 61 percent of possession and 20 shots to Brisbane’s 13.

But Wellington couldn’t find a second goal, and Roar forward Shea Connors punished the Phoenix by levelling the scores in the 80th minute.

Head coach Natalie Lawrence was at a loss to explain how they didn’t walk away with all three points.

“We’ve said it a few times this season that we deserve something out of the game but we deserved to win the game,” Lawrence told journalists.

“I don’t think we’ve been that dominant in a game yet in our history, where we’ve had so many chances.

“Some of the stuff there was actually described to me as scintillating, which I thought was quite a nice way to describe it.”

The Phoenix remain bottom of the table, but are now four points behind the Newcastle Jets.

“We are still in reach of them,” Lawrence said.

“We play them and we have two games in hand, so I feel like destiny is in our hands to achieve our goal of not only beating the points tally of last season but getting off the bottom of the league.

“This game has meant that we’ve got points out of four games this season, which is one more than last season. There are huge, huge positives.”

The match was not without controversy, with the Wellington coaching staff upset Roar captain Ayesha Norrie wasn’t send-off for pushing Phoenix midfielder Betsy Hassett in the face early in the second half.

“For me you can’t push somebody’s face against the turf. I don’t know how that’s not a red card.

“I don’t know what the referee saw there but if that’s not a red card I don’t know what is. Once again, we leave a little bit frustrated with the officiating.

“If they’re down to 10 players, we’re 1-nil up and we’re as dominant as we are then the game probably looks a little bit different.”

The Phoenix dominated possession and looked the more threatening of the two sides from the opening whistle, with Milly Clegg and Michaela Robertson dangerous down both flanks.

Van der Meer gave the Nix a deserved lead in the 26th minute, nodding home another pinpoint free-kick from Michaela Foster.

The Wellington Phoenix face Sydney FC for the second time in a fortnight next weekend, this time in Sydney.

– RNZ