WPW R23 vs Western United | Sun 20th Apr | 4:00pm | Porirua Park / Sky Sports 2

Put on your bunny ears, bring your easter eggs, its Easter Sunday football in P-Town. Sadly there is nothing but pride to play for.

Chant for the day has to be “Always look on the bright side of life”.

Temps's good bye game. 

Hope the girls can give it their all.  

Sentimental game for us but important for WU too after todays result.

Anything but a win and they'll face Adelaide away in the finals series. Win would set up a home game against the Mariners.

COYN lets send Temps off with a win.

Is Abbot or Jerez in the squad for today’s game? Will be the final game for about half our players too as well as Temps. I’m confident that he has gotten better results than the previous coaches would have achieved. Top priority has to be a striker or two that can get 10 plus goals per season. 

Hope plenty of supporters get out there to support the team toady. Hoping Porirua turns on a bit of sun. It's been a great venue so far!

YOUR LAST XI OF THE SEASON 💛 pic.twitter.com/RL6rjIiW15

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) April 20, 2025

The final teamsheet of the season

No Abbott or McMeeken 
10 minutes of Tanaka on its way.
Last time I ever watch Ferguson 

No McMeeken either? Unless Ferguson signs for Brisbane or Perth next season? 

Am I ready to have my heart broken again... You bet I am!

Very lucky that wasn't a goal for WU! Please, can we just win this game to finish on a good note?

They seem more likely to score than us. 

We love you offside flag!

Its just not working through the midfield.
Should try Tanaka or Whinham

Fenix

Its just not working through the midfield.
Should try Tanaka or Whinham

45 mins too early for Tanaka to come on and you know it!

Gee that looked like a lucky break for us

We just don't seem to take the right options.

Fergusson has surely covered the most kms of any of our players this season. And like today,we havent given her a lot. But when it really counts, she doesn't have the extra bit of pace, or ability to hold the ball up there. The centre half always seems to beat her comfortably.

It needs changing in the middle surely.

Holey fudge, Tanaka is coming on! 

LT01

Fenix

Its just not working through the midfield.
Should try Tanaka or Whinham

45 mins too early for Tanaka to come on and you know it!

 well, I'll be blowed!

Rubbish.  Why can't either of our teams defend corners.. FFS. 

Well, this is proper football weather!

Ah crappiola.

What did the sign say? 

Also is Longo retiring??? Everyone hugging her off makes me feel like this is her last game for us.  

Better tonight, but still rather bad in the final third. So much hesitation and players take an age to get the ball in the box.

Exciting end there! Just missing muddy sliding everywhere and puddles of mud-water and it’s as retro as you like. Great effort the crowd.

Don’t know anyone in camp, but again have enjoyed watching games. But probably like the other week with the men, because the jeopardy was out of the game I could appreciate the entertainment and effort. 

Hoping to see us push the top teams more in both teams next season.

Great game. Great fun, much better second half. Tanaka was a breath of fresh air. Not quite sure why we had Longo centre forward for 15 mins.

Looking at the final points table we were miles off getting into top 6. But thinking about the other teams asides from the two Melbourne teams we could create enough chances to get something from every game. We didn’t get enough draws and obviously didn’t score enough goals. I hope they look to African or South America for our next strikers, we have no pace in our team. I’m looking forward to hearing who puts their name in the hat to coach the team next season. 

Procrastinixing

Also is Longo retiring??? Everyone hugging her off makes me feel like this is her last game for us.  

Confirmed in the press 

Yipe Longo retires.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360653599/phoenix-captain-announces-retirement-professional-football

Alana Gunn is her partner? Wonder if Gunn is a candidate to coach with the Nix's or Auckland's ALW teams. Lots of success with the Canty Pride.

"It's the last game for me...they don't need me" 🥹

Annalie Longo reveals that the performance in the final game of the season wasn't just for departing coach Paul Temple, but for her as well!

Congratulations on an epic shift, Flea 👏#WELvWUN | Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/CpMA7v44P0

— Paramount+ Australia (@ParamountPlusAU) April 20, 2025

Well played Annalie.

After the positive vibes of the game I went to nab the pink jersey and they are sold out in my sizes.   Noooooooo.

Are they sold out online as well?

That was a bittersweet end to the season, on and off the pitch.

After Main equalised it really felt like we had a chance. I don't know how Mihocic avoided a penalty for handball, and seeing Whinham's shot tipped over the crossbar was heart-stopping.

Even before Longo's announcement it felt like we were saying farewell to a a lot of the players as well as to Temps - I don't know who else will stay or go but I'm sure we'll be looking at a very different Wahinix next season.

And the girls leading a chant of "Wellington is wonderful" after the game was pure class - I really hope someone got that on video!

Procrastinixing

Are they sold out online as well?

That's where I was trying to buy.  

oh ok.  I thought there was a merch tent I didn't see. 

Bananas

Procrastinixing

Are they sold out online as well?

That's where I was trying to buy.  

Jaber was given flowers at the end as well so perhaps she won't be returning.

That was so cool of them to start the chant. Such warm fuzzies.  Surely someone recorded it! 

Simon B

That was a bittersweet end to the season, on and off the pitch.

After Main equalised it really felt like we had a chance. I don't know how Mihocic avoided a penalty for handball, and seeing Whinham's shot tipped over the crossbar was heart-stopping.

Even before Longo's announcement it felt like we were saying farewell to a a lot of the players as well as to Temps - I don't know who else will stay or go but I'm sure we'll be looking at a very different Wahinix next season.

And the girls leading a chant of "Wellington is wonderful" after the game was pure class - I really hope someone got that on video!