The Nix had the majority of possession, played the lion\u2019s share of the game in the Roar\u2019s half and had 22 shots to Brisbane\u2019s seven.
But Wellington couldn\u2019t find the back of the net and conceded a contentious goal from a corner in the 62nd<\/sup> minute.
Phoenix head coach Paul Temple felt his side deserved more.
\u201cI am really proud of the team,\u201d Temple said post-match. \u201cI thought the performance was good. We came to a really tough place and we played really well and essentially dominated most of the game.
\u201cDefensively we were good and in possession it was really us creating all of the momentum and chances.
\u201cIt\u2019s just a shame that we\u2019ve walked off without any points, but if we play like that for the rest of the nine games of the season then we\u2019re going to win a lot more games.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/02\/GettyImages-2197189644.jpg?w=1200\")
And Temple believes the Roar\u2019s goal shouldn\u2019t have stood. Paul Temple made one change to the XI which started last Sunday\u2019s 1-0 defeat to Central Coast with young midfielder Daisy Brazendale returning in place of English striker Olivia Fergusson. Versatile midfielder Amelia Abbott was named on the bench for the first time following her late arrival from the University of Texas. Alyssa Whinham had their best chances in the first quarter of an hour. She was well picked out at the top of the box by Manaia Elliott in the 12th<\/sup> minute but shot straight at Sekany and shortly after Whinham was well closed down in the Roar box after Lara Wall found her near the penalty spot. Kuilamu put Brisbane in front soon after when she nodded home from a yard out after Vil\u00e3o appeared to be fouled. Despite all of the Nix\u2019s endeavour they were fortunate to not go two goals down in the 78th<\/sup> minute when Brisbane defender Isabela Hoyos skied her shot over the bar from six yards out following another threatening Roar corner.
\u201cWhen you look at the replay it is a very, very clear foul on the goalkeeper.
\u201cEveryone knows it\u2019s a foul. The only people that don\u2019t think it\u2019s a foul are the officials.
\u201cThere\u2019s a sense of injustice and it\u2019s really difficult to take when those things ultimately end up deciding the game.
\u201cIt was a sucker punch and it took the wind out of our sails and changed the momentum of the game, [and] gives them momentum, belief and something to hang on to.
The result means the Phoenix remain eighth and are now three points adrift of the top six.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/02\/GettyImages-2197182697.jpg?w=1200\")
The Phoenix got off to an impressive start, dominating possession and camping themselves inside the Brisbane half.
But it was the Roar who registered the first shot of the match in the ninth minute when Matildas midfielder Tameka Yallop unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the area. Fortunately for the Nix, Mackenzie Barry was on hand to smother Yallop\u2019s effort.
Yallop had Brisbane\u2019s only other shot of the first half a handful of minutes later with an effort from wide out right, but it was comfortably claimed by Carolina Vil\u00e3o in Wellington\u2019s goal.
Her opposite Olivia Sekany was the busier of the two goalkeepers but she wasn\u2019t really tested by the Phoenix\u2019s shots at goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/02\/GettyImages-2197182688.jpg?w=1200\")
The skilful midfielder had the ball at her feet in a number of promising positions and had a further three shots before halftime. One sailed narrowly over the bar while the other two were well-held by Sekany.
Grace Jale and Elliott also had opportunities to break the deadlock in the first half. Jale headed a corner narrowly wide in the 44th<\/sup> minute and Elliott blazed over the bar from a tight angle in stoppage time after getting in behind the Brisbane defence.
The Nix had the first two shots of the second half with Jale fizzing a shot narrowly wide of the near post in the 47th<\/sup> minute before Whinham sliced a left-footed shot wide of goal from just outside the box.
Roar teenager Grace Kuilamu fired a warning shot just inside the hour mark, striking the right-hand post with a thunderous effort from outside the box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/02\/GettyImages-2197185806.jpg?w=1200\")
Temple responded by making his first substitution, bringing on Fergusson in place of Brazendale.
Vil\u00e3o kept the Phoenix in the match midway through the second half, making a great reflex save to deny Yallop one-on-one.
Temple made a triple-change with a quarter of an hour remaining with Emma Main, Mebae Tanaka and Amelia Abbott replacing Elliott, Whinham and Alivia Kelly respectively.
Moments later Jale fired a shot narrowly wide of the left post after finding some space at the top of the box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/02\/GettyImages-2197192558.jpg?w=1200\")
Wellington had a further three shots before time added on, but none were able to test Sekany in Brisbane\u2019s goal. Annalie Longo came closest to drawing the Phoenix level, but the Roar did well to deflect her effort from the top of the box out for a corner.
The Nix were unable to produce an equaliser in time added on as the Roar clung on to claim all three points.
The Wellington Phoenix will return home tomorrow to prepare for Saturday\u2019s match against high-flying Melbourne Victory at Porirua Park.<\/p>\n\n\n