Wellington Phoenix have ascended to the top of the Ninja A-League table for the first time in club history with a 1-0 Waitangi Day win over Perth Glory thanks to star American striker Makala Woods.
Woods scored the decisive goal of the match deep in first half stoppage time, sliding a composed finish past Perth keeper Teresa Morrisey after Lucía León refusal to give up on the ball set up the chance.
Woods – who only signed in January – has now had a hand in 9 of the Phoenix’s last 12 goals.
Her goal today came in the fourth minute of first half stoppage time after León harried Tijan McKenna off the ball deep in her own half.
The ball spilt towards Onyi Zogg, but Woods won it and then nipped in to score the decisive goal.
The victory was richly deserved for Wellington in front of a big crowd on their national day, dominating both halves of the game and creating the vast bulk of the chances.
León and Grace Jale – who passed a first half concussion test after a head knock – were instrumental in Wellington’s display, with the Dominican setting up a couple of chances early in the first half before playing her part in Woods’s winner.
Jale’s effort that hit the crossbar in the 74th minute was the closest anyone came to scoring aside from the goal, and she was a constantly dangerous presence around Perth’s area.
The Phoenix’s ascent to the top of the table caps a remarkable run since late December; since losing the return fixture in Perth 1-0, the Kiwi side have won six out of eight games and become a goal scoring machine.
In all they’ve taken 19 of 24 available points since December 20, and scored 24 goals in the process.
The Phoenix will hold top spot until at least Sunday, when Melbourne City take on Brisbane.
Make sure you subscribe to our YouTube channel so you never miss any moments, highlights, or shows!
On the other side of the equation, the loss is Perth’s third straight goalless game.
That run has left them the second lowest scoring side in the Ninja A-League, however the competition is so tight that they sit just two points outside of the top six.
The Glory will look to atone in their next fixture, when they take on Canberra at Sam Kerr Football Centre next Saturday.
Meanwhile Wellington will look to expand on their momentum when they take on Central Coast Mariners at Porirua Park next Sunday afternoon.
