{"id":323601,"date":"2024-11-17T20:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-17T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/?p=323601"},"modified":"2024-11-18T10:04:04","modified_gmt":"2024-11-17T21:04:04","slug":"ninja-a-league-round-3-match-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/news\/ninja-a-league-round-3-match-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Ninja A-League Round 3 Match Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A spectacular long-range goal has consigned the Wellington Phoenix to their third straight defeat to start the new Ninja A-League season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Newcastle Jets have beaten the Phoenix 1-0 at Maitland Regional Sportsground thanks to an audacious effort from their captain Cassidy Davis, who found the back of the net in the 70th<\/sup> minute with a shot from well out wide.

The goal leaves the Nix without a point at the bottom of the competition ladder.

\u201cI hate those goals in this league to be honest,\u201d Phoenix head coach Paul Temple said after the match. \u201cThere\u2019s one or two every week, just pot shots from anywhere.

\u201cYou\u2019re not even thinking that she\u2019s going to shoot from that angle and from that distance.

\u201cWe talked about moments at halftime and how moments were going to win the game\u2026and unfortunately that was one where we didn\u2019t get any pressure on the ball.

\u201cShe hit it pretty well. I don\u2019t know if she was aiming for it or not, but it sailed in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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MAITLAND, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 17: Annalie Longo of the Phoenix is attended to by team doctor and staff during the round three A-League Women’s match between Newcastle Jets and Wellington Phoenix at Maitland Regional Sportsground, on November 17, 2024, in Maitland, Australia. (Photo by Scott Gardiner\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To make matters worse for Temple his captain Annalie Longo left the ground in an ambulance after copping a nasty blow to her head in the 90th<\/sup> minute and is all but ruled out of Friday\u2019s Unite Round match against Adelaide United in Sydney.

\u201cIt\u2019s not good unfortunately. She\u2019s taken a pretty hefty whack to the face. There\u2019s a bit of blood and dizziness and she\u2019s in a bit of a bad way.

\u201cThe doctor feels it\u2019s some sort of fracture around the eye socket. We\u2019ll hopefully find out more when we get to the hospital.

\u201cShe\u2019s got the right people around her looking after and we\u2019ll assess her and find out more, but it\u2019s highly unlikely she\u2019ll be able to have any involvement on Friday.\u201d

Paul Temple made one enforced change to the XI which started last week\u2019s 1-0 defeat to Canberra United, with midfielder Daisy Brazendale replacing injured centre back Rebecca Lake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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MAITLAND, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 17: Josephine Wilson of the Jets competes for the ball with Mebae Tanaka of the Phoenix during the round three A-League Women’s match between Newcastle Jets and Wellington Phoenix at Maitland Regional Sportsground, on November 17, 2024, in Maitland, Australia. (Photo by Scott Gardiner\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The match kicked off in 31 degree heat, which had a major impact on the two sides and meant drink breaks were taken every quarter of an hour.

There was little goalmouth action before the first stoppage in play, with some last-ditch defending from Newcastle denying Phoenix forward Emma Main a shot on goal in the 10th<\/sup> minute when she was slipped into the Jets\u2019 box by Alyssa Whinham.

The hosts had the first shot on target from a corner after a good spell of pressure shortly before the half an hour mark, but were unable to threaten Carolina Vil\u00e3o\u2019s goal.

After being relatively unemployed for most of the first half, Wellington\u2019s \u2018keeper ensured the scores remained level at halftime.

Vil\u00e3o made four saves in five minutes before the interval, the first the most significant as she acrobatically denied Deven Jackson, clawing away Jackson\u2019s shot that look destined for the top corner.

Newcastle forward Sheridan Gallagher also headed a left-wing cross narrowly wide of goal shortly before halftime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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MAITLAND, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 17: Olivia Fergusson of the Phoenix crosses the all as Natasha Prior of the Jets defendsduring the round three A-League Women’s match between Newcastle Jets and Wellington Phoenix at Maitland Regional Sportsground, on November 17, 2024, in Maitland, Australia. (Photo by Scott Gardiner\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Temple made a double change at the half, bringing on English forward Olivia Fergusson and fullback Lara Wall on in place of Whinham and Manaia Elliott respectively.

The Jets continued to have more of the possession to start the second half but were unable to create any openings before the first drinks break.

The Phoenix had the ball in the back of the net in the 67th<\/sup> minute when Main finished a neat cross from Fergusson, but the goal was immediately ruled out for offside.

Moments later Annalie Longo dragged a left-footed shot narrowly wide of the right-hand post as the Nix pressed for the breakthrough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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MAITLAND, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 17: Cassidy Davis of the Jets celebrates a goal with team matesduring the round three A-League Women’s match between Newcastle Jets and Wellington Phoenix at Maitland Regional Sportsground, on November 17, 2024, in Maitland, Australia. (Photo by Scott Gardiner\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Instead it was the hosts who broke the deadlock with Jets captain Cassidy Davis scoring a ridiculous goal in the 70th<\/sup> minute after unleashing a shot from close to the near sideline that Vil\u00e3o was unable to get a hand to.

Wellington created a couple of half chances after the final drinks break with Fergusson heading a left-wing cross well wide of goal, before Mebae Tanaka, on in place of Emma Main, volleyed a shot over the bar from the top of the box.

The Phoenix were unable to create another opportunity and finished the match without their captain after Longo copped a nasty knock to her head.

Carolina Vil\u00e3o ensured the Jets didn\u2019t double their lead in stoppage time when she tipped a Gia Vicari free-kick over her bar, but the Nix were forced to settle for a second successive 1-nil defeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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MAITLAND, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 17: Tiana Jaber of the Phoenix with the ball during the round three A-League Women’s match between Newcastle Jets and Wellington Phoenix at Maitland Regional Sportsground, on November 17, 2024, in Maitland, Australia. (Photo by Scott Gardiner\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Wellington Phoenix will stay in New South Wales this week to prepare for Friday\u2019s Unite Round match against Adelaide United at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney.

Wellington Phoenix:\u00a0<\/strong>39. Carolina VIL\u00c3O (gk), 2. Zoe MCMEEKEN, 3. Tiana JABER, 4. Mackenzie BARRY, 6. Maya MCCUTCHEON, 7. Grace JALE, 10. Alyssa WHINHAM (9. Olivia FERGUSSON 46th<\/sup>), 11. Manaia ELLIOTT (21. Lara WALL 46th<\/sup>), 15. Daisy BRAZENDALE, 16. Annalie LONGO (c) (12. Ella MCMILLAN 90+1), 20. Emma MAIN (14. Mebae TANAKA 71st<\/sup>).
Unused substitutes: 22. Aimee DANIELI (gk).

Newcastle Jets: <\/strong>30. Tiahna ROBERTSON (gk), 2. Josie WILSON (25. Lara GOOCH 75th<\/sup>), 3. Claudia CICCO, 4. Nathasha PRIOR, 6. Cassidy DAVIS (c), 8. Emma DUNDAS (32. Claire ADAMS 88th<\/sup>), 11. Deven JACKSON, 13. Lauren ALLAN (24. Milan HAMMOND 88th<\/sup>), 17. Sheridan GALLAGHER (23. Gia VICARI 61st<\/sup>), 18. Sophia HOBAN, 22. Lorena BAUMANN.
Unused substitutes: 31. Ally BOERTJE (gk).

Goals:
<\/strong>6. Cassidy DAVIS (Newcastle Jets) \u2013 70th

<\/sup>Cards:
<\/strong>4. Mackenzie BARRY (Wellington Phoenix) \u2013 yellow \u2013 45+4
3. Tiana JABER (Wellington Phoenix) \u2013 yellow \u2013 54th
<\/sup>17. Sheridan GALLAGHER (Newcastle Jets) \u2013 yellow \u2013 59th
<\/sup>12. Ella MCMILLAN (Wellington Phoenix) \u2013 yellow \u2013 90+8<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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