WPW R8 vs Sydney FC | Sat 20th Dec | 4:00pm | Porirua Park / SS2

Well, I certainly didn't predict that!

Best Nixmas EVER!

Along with the other records that tumbled today Jale scored the Wāhinix’s 100th goal, and apparently she’s now our leading-equal goal scorer on 10 along with Speckmaier.

And we got both her and Bev in the stands afterwards for photos, just to make the day even better.

Bullion

Fenix

A good team effort all round,but I have to say Vlok is impressing given her limited exposure. 

makes the unavailability of Winham and Fraser not much of an issue.

Leon impressed when she came on,too

I needed this result, I really needed it. Been an absolute diabolical week and it was really nice to get a reminder that supporting the Phoenix can sometimes (if rarely of late) not only feel good but feel great! 

Up the Wahinix! Absolutely elated with the performance this afternoon!

Outstanding result. And I missed it due to family stuff. :(

Great game! Was at the game watching live and just honestly so so good! Wonder what Fever/crowd sounded like on tv. Obviously I will find out when I go to watch this game again later on in the week!

I knew the goals were gonna come at some point.   Wasn't expecting that many.

My oldest had his first experience in the fever and what a game to do it.

Just sometimes im so friggen proud and glad im a Phoenix tragic.

Sydney have got thru plenty of keepers in the last couple of seasons. I believe they used 4 keepers last season, and shed them all,including Bri Edwards.

Robertson today just didn't look statuesque or dominant enough right from the start.  I certainly couldn't see anything to recommend her over Edwards, who is benchwarming for WSW.

With no var, Robertson was being heavily crowded at corners,and without seeing the replay,id say three goals game from that.

By contrast, Esson came forwards for high balls very strongly and pretty perfectly as I remember.

Her recent aerial exposures seem to be more when high shots are going behind her

Edit after watching replay:
I'm afraid the Sydney keeper was well out of her depth. 

What an amazing day.  Who would have predicted this result.  Credit to Sydney they were still trying right till the end. 

Welnix doubling the investment in the Women's team on full display today.

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What a fudgeing game!!!

Jale is midfield is awesome, Samba led everything going forward (but shouldve had a hatty!), whole backline and keeper great, Main formed a formidable front two with Samba which overran Sydneys defence, creativity of Nunn and Elliot was fantastic, CJ Bott so calm at the base of midfield and makes such excellent decisions, and god do Pia Vlok and Grace Jale physically dominate in midfield. Oh, and I thought we would drop off second half but we were just as good and bagged FOUR more, subs all did fantastic as well.

Most complete Nix team performance I've seen in a long long time - a proper 90 minute performance, and every single player did fudgeing well out there. Now let's get more consistent and get moving up that league table!

Our backline was great today. 
VDM, Barry and Walker look very settled and are not getting beaten to anything. 

I missed this game! Maybe I should miss a few more 😭
Great Christmasy Yamaha class, but that’s a record equal club win right??

Just a note on Vlok. What a talent. What is she 18 or something? Only played a handful of games yet she looks totally at home in this league. She's got a bright future and I can't wait to watch it. 

martinb

I missed this game! Maybe I should miss a few more 😭
Great Christmasy Yamaha class, but that’s a record equal club win right??

record for the women, biggest margin men or women and 2nd most goals scored.

Subtitles always crack me up

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People who donated to the food bank received these cool Christmas decorations

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Bullion

martinb

I missed this game! Maybe I should miss a few more 😭
Great Christmasy Yamaha class, but that’s a record equal club win right??

record for the women, biggest margin men or women and 2nd most goals scored.

That’s right, Rudan v CC. A bit of a forgotten game. Not as famous as the GC win at home with the chants and all! 

Fenix

Sydney have got thru plenty of keepers in the last couple of seasons. I believe they used 4 keepers last season, and shed them all,including Bri Edwards.

Robertson today just didn't look statuesque or dominant enough right from the start.  I certainly couldn't see anything to recommend her over Edwards, who is benchwarming for WSW.

With no var, Robertson was being heavily crowded at corners,and without seeing the replay,id say three goals game from that.

By contrast, Esson came forwards for high balls very strongly and pretty perfectly as I remember.

Her recent aerial exposures seem to be more when high shots are going behind her

Edit after watching replay:
I'm afraid the Sydney keeper was well out of her depth. 

Robertson looked like she'd be blown over in a normal Wellington breeze. Esson was very good under the high ball apart from a single moment where there was a miscommunication. VAR probably would have been most useful for a couple of marginal handball shouts, in the box, in our favour. 

All in favour of noting that was the most 90min performance of any Nix team in recent memory. I was a bit critical first half for not already having the game completely out of reach, but even a second half where there was seemingly a bit of a tactic to stay back a bit, the Wahinix looked like scoring every time they got the ball. What a game. Everyone on the park for the nix was great, no notes.

martinb

Bullion

martinb

I missed this game! Maybe I should miss a few more 😭
Great Christmasy Yamaha class, but that’s a record equal club win right??

record for the women, biggest margin men or women and 2nd most goals scored.

That’s right, Rudan v CC. A bit of a forgotten game. Not as famous as the GC win at home with the chants and all! 

Smeltzy Smeltzy whats the score Smeltzy whats the score. One of the best nights

One of the things that I think made a difference in this game was having Main start alongside Samba.  Samba's been a bit on her own up-front in recent games.  Main won quite a number of flick-on headers, that drew Sydney defenders and gave Samba more space.

Great game, well deserved victory. 

Awesome to see the Fever singing  and chanting to the team at the end while Bev did postmatch interview. 

Antz

One of the things that I think made a difference in this game was having Main start alongside Samba.  Samba's been a bit on her own up-front in recent games.  Main won quite a number of flick-on headers, that drew Sydney defenders and gave Samba more space.

Great game, well deserved victory. 

Last week I was less than bullish about Sambas contributions so far.

Yesterday, I was very impressed with the way the team played to her feet, and Samba laid the ball off quickly to teammate. That's the style of centre forward I love, and was taught myself. 

Main looked to support this well, the first goal coming from her quick lay off to Vlok. And as you say, she battled hard winning headers and making good lay offs.

kwlap

Just a note on Vlok. What a talent. What is she 18 or something? Only played a handful of games yet she looks totally at home in this league. She's got a bright future and I can't wait to watch it. 

Actually only 17 (17 years and 80 days when she scored against Victory last month). So yeah, an exciting talent to watch develop, great that we have her on a three-year contract!

One News managed to put a story together for their bulletin, but Three news had nothing except to drone on about aUcKlAnD.  Not surprised I suppose. 

I wonder how much Jale we've been missing out on considering we've only seen her in midfield recently. She has been outstanding in that position.

Very comprehensive win yesterday! Everyone played great. Hope we can do this consistently :) 

Antz

One of the things that I think made a difference in this game was having Main start alongside Samba.  Samba's been a bit on her own up-front in recent games.  Main won quite a number of flick-on headers, that drew Sydney defenders and gave Samba more space.

Great game, well deserved victory. 

Absolutely she worked her socks off and helped create space for Samba. Just creates more uncertainty in the defenders mind when they don't know who the creative players are going to target in the final third. She also dropped back an impressive amount to help disrupt Sydney and keep them scoreless in the first half.

Priestman predicted something pre game though maybe not 7 goals

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/12/20/some-team-is-due-a-good-hiding-from-us-phoenix-coach-bev-priestman/

coochiee

Priestman predicted something pre game though maybe not 7 goals

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/12/20/some-team-is-due-a-good-hiding-from-us-phoenix-coach-bev-priestman/

“Some team is due a good hiding from us” has to be Phoenix quote of the year.

Chief needs to say this!

Procrastinixing

Offering to donate to Wellington Free Ambulance after a win hasn't worked so I've donated before this weekends games and hope the football gods will accept this and let Santa give us six points for the weekend.

The Football Gods heard you!

I guess I'll be making a donation before every game now lol


Good metrics!

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Two in the team of the week

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2 isnt enough. Probably harsh on the defenders given how good they were. Could make a case for almost anyone from the XI, maybe bar Esson

Its a lot more fun reading these threads when you have a weekend like that!