WPW R18 @ Melbourne Victory | Fri 20th Feb | 9:00pm | SS6

Can the Wahinix finally get a win in Melbourne?

Edit: I screwed up the title - its R18 not R17, Mods can you please change!

Can they do what the men haven't done and produce a win for the first time since 2017???? 

We beat them at home now let’s beat them away!

Procrastinixing

Can they do what the men haven't done and produce a win for the first time since 2017???? 

Thankfully this is being played at 'The Home of the Matildas' rather than the graveyard of Nix hopes and dreams, AAMI Park.

Gutted for Wall. While not spectacular, she has been very solid this season. Who comes in for her? And is Jaber or Macey back yet?

kwlap

Gutted for Wall. While not spectacular, she has been very solid this season. Who comes in for her? And is Jaber or Macey back yet?

Agreed, terrible way to end the season and to miss out on the group stage of the WWC qualifiers - “up to eight weeks” means she might squeak in to the semis or final in April (assuming the Ferns don’t suffer a shock upset in Honiara) but it’s going to be dicey. And I don’t want to jinx us by talking about May…

Jaber was on the bench for CCM and is listed as available for Victory, no idea when Fraser will be back although I’ve heard rumours she’s started training with the team again.

No Zoe McMeeken for the VUC

Melbourne Victory (two to be omitted)
1. Courtney Newbon, 3. Claudia Bunge, 4. Chelsea Blissett, 5. Sofia Sakalis, 6. Taylor Ray, 7. Ella O’grady, 8. Sienna Saveska, 9. Holly Furphy, 10. Rhianna Pollicina, 16. Kennedy White, 18. Kayla Morrison, 23. Rachel Lowe, 24. Laura Pickett, 27. Rosie Curtis, 28. Sienna Techera, 30. Payton Woodward, 41. Jessica Young, 66. Alana Jancevski, 81. Grace Maher.

In: Nil.
Out: 14. Fiorina Iaria, 17. Poppy O’Keefe, 20. Leyla Hussein.
Unavailable: 19. Zoe McMeeken (injured), 11. Nicki Flannery (injured).

Wellington Phoenix (one to be omitted)
1. Victoria Esson (Gk), 3. Tiana Jaber, 4. Mackenzie Barry, 5. Ellie Walker, 7. Grace Jale, 11. Manaia Elliott, 14. Lucía León, 15. Daisy Brazendale, 16. Marisa van der Meer, 17. Ela Jerez, 20. Emma Main, 22. Aimee Danieli (Gk), 23. Brooke Nunn, 24. Pia Vlok, 27. Zoe Benson, 30. Mackenzie Anthony, 31. Makala Woods, 32. Emma Pijnenburg.

Unavailable: 2. CJ Bott (captain) (pregnant), 6. Tessel Middag (injured), 9. Sabitra Bhandari (injured), 10. Alyssa Whinham (injured), 21. Lara Wall (injured).

Officials
Referee: Mikayla Ryan
Assistant referees: Nikoletta Sotiropolous, Daphne Gounaris.
Fourth official: Pouya Ghadirian.

Bummed for Lara Wall. Has been a solid performer this season. More injuries is what we don't need. Going to need more defensive cover now. Hopefully we can get Jaber match fit she played alot of Right FB last season

Real shame to see Zoe McMeeken still injured for MV. has been out for a long time now. She started the seaon so strong for MV.

Wahinx have never won in Victoria.

Two Nix droughts to be broken this weekend?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360936394/wellington-phoenix-v-melbourne-victory-all-you-need-know-about-league-women-round-18-fixture

The team to do it. pic.twitter.com/QHwuWesUN3

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) February 20, 2026

Jale is back!

Phoenix are playing well but Vic defense is solid

Not looking quite as sharp as before. Just loose touches at key times.

And threading needle passes that just don't quite work......

Good half. We started a bit slow but been the better team as it went on. Created a few chances but could've been better with our decision making. 

Threads a bit quiet - surely people arent jumping off after just one loss?

COYN.
Fire up. We can do this. First win in Melbourne. Time to make history 

I would love to see Vlok play up front in Woods Position. Vlok looks like the only one who could score

Hmmmmm. Feeling like the mjoo has deserted them - passes not getting through, touches too heavy....

Bugger

Why does this happen so much for us away from home? Must take our chances.

Btw what a shambles - bad decision from Pijnenburg lets them counter, Walker slips in the box then Jale comes in like a freight train and gives away the penalty

Wahinix bottling it as good as the men ever did

Yeah its not looking too good. Just lacking the finer touches. They were looking so good for a while but just cant get it together now.

Leon deserves a goal

What the fudge are we doing with our free kicks? Shocking this game

The international window may have cone at a good time - a chance to regroup perhaps. 

Deserve at least a draw here. keep us in top 6 contention

Nice! 

Come on Phoenix!

That not offside? 

why did we slow it down at the end?

We should have one that again! That has been the Achilles heel of the Wahinix every season.

I'll take a point but sheesh.  If we can't win away from home we won't win any silverware.  City beat CCM so they move further away from us 

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When I see the highlights we had heaps more good chances, and all they had was a penalty....

Probably deserved more from that game. But happy to take the draw.
A win and a draw against MV this season can't be scoffed at.
Top 6 or top 4 is still history making stuff for us.

Elliot put in so many good crosses but there seemed to never be any runs coming in when she did. 

Still my favourite team though. Hope Leon is OK....

Well, we should have won that, and we lost ground, but after trailing for so long, a draw doesn't seem like such a bad result.

Looking at the table, it's a bad result in the premiership race, a moderate result in the top 2/top 4 race, and a good result in the top 6 race. Depends how high our ambitions are I guess.

Hopefully the break doesn't allow the other teams to figure us out, because we have been in good form and it's not really welcome. But hopefully a few players come back from internationals in form, buzzing and ready to go again.

Jale is indispensable in our midfield, a silly challenge in the box though.

Must be a Phoenix thing to not take some of the many chances created. So frustrating to see both teams do it.
Also whats with the lack of urgency at the end mucking around with taking a throw in then throwing it short and wasting it,then with time running down Esson pisses around instead of just getting rid of it. Okay may not have come to anything but just dont get the lack of urgency when they really wanted a win from that game.

I think it was a valuble point on the road. Something we havent been able to do in the past. And in the context of the top 6, it keeps Mel Victory below us on the table. 
Coming home with a positive result before the three week international break also good mentally for the team. And something to build on going into the final stretch of games for the regular season.
For me, If we can get a top four finish and a home playoff game, that will be huge for this team, especially considering all the setbacks they have had through the season.
Jale proving to be our best player game in game out. She has been great this year.

Does anyone else think Woods isn’t a very skilful footballer?

Feverish

Does anyone else think Woods isn’t a very skilful footballer?

I disagree - but either way do her silky skills (or lack thereof) really matter if she has 4 goals and 5 assists in 7 games?