A second half strike from Makala Woods ensured Wellington Phoenix secured their first point of the new Ninja A-League season after fighting back to draw 1-1 with Melbourne Victory at Hnry stadium.
The home side had the better of the early stages with Indiah-Paige Riley forcing Courtney Newbon into a save from outside the box before Grace Jale’s low-effort was then well saved by the Victory keeper.
The Away side’s first real opening came in the 25th minute, when Claudia Bunge met Alana Jančevski’s cross from a corner but headed narrowly wide of the target before Jeff Hopkins’ side were forced into a chance in the 39th minute, with Skye Leach replacing the injured Alicia Woods.
A minute later the visitors were in front as Holly Furphy capitalised on some nervy goalkeeping from Victoria Esson who, having initially fumbled the cross into the box, couldn’t keep the Victory forward’s bobbling finish out of the net.
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A goal down at the break, Wellington Phoenix came out firing in the second half as Jale fired an effort high and wide before Manaia Elliott then fizzed one wide of the target.
However the Nix were amping up the pressure at Hnry Stadium and Victory’s defensive resolve eventually broke in the 63rd minute.
Scampering down the right, the ever-tricky Brooke Nunn jinked past her defender before picking out an unmarked Makala Woods inside the box and the American did the rest, finding the back of the net with a low, driven finish to make it 1-1.
Melbourne Victory responded well to being pegged back with Sienna Saveska going close in the 83rd, but her shot from range was saved by Esson.
Wellington kept probing late on with Nunn firing wide of the upright in the 86th minute before substitute Emma Main hit the left post with a header from Pia Vlok’s cross.
