The Phoenix celebrate Mariana Speckmaier’s goal during their A-League women’s win over Western Sydney Wanderers. Photo: Photosport
Three of the Wellington Phoenix's new signings have helped the team to their first win of the women's A-League season, with a 3-0 whitewash of Western Sydney Wanderers.
Venezuela international Mariana Speckmaier and Phoenix academy graduates Macey Fraser and Manaia Elliott all scored second-half goals in the second-round match in Sydney on Sunday.
It is seven weeks earlier than the Phoenix women took to register their maiden win last season and nine rounds earlier than their inaugural campaign.
Coach Paul Temple was delighted to secure three points after opening the season with a 1-0 home loss to Melbourne City a week earlier.
"It's obviously a great feeling to win [and] win away from home with a clean sheet as well," he said.
"Off the back of a good performance last week I think we needed to back it up and get the result that we wanted.
"It was a tough game for 65/70 minutes. It wasn't pretty at times, and it was a bit of a war of attrition, but eventually we got the breakthrough and from when we scored the first goal then we really relaxed, and it was a little bit of pressure lifted off the players.
"You could see them way more relaxed in possession, we kept the ball really well and we absolutely dominated the last 20 minutes in terms of chances and deservedly scored a few more goals.
"In the end it was a really good night for all of us and proof that if we play the style of football we want to, with the energy that we need, then good things can happen. It's going to be good for our confidence."
The Phoenix will return to action after the international break when they host Brisbane in Wellington on November 4.
- RNZ
