Rylee Foster (GK) of the Phoenix during the Women’s A-League - Wellington Phoenix FC v Melbourne City FC at Sky Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday 15 October 2023 Copyright photo: Masanori Udagawa / www.photosport.nz Photo: Masanori Udagawa
The Wellington Phoenix women will find out later today if Rylee Foster will cop a one match ban after a contentious refereeing decision in their 2-0 win over Canberra United yesterday.
An independent match review panel, which looks at all red cards, will meet today and give the club a decision this evening.
If the panel gives Foster a mandatory one match ban the Phoenix plan on appealing to the disciplinary and ethics committee.
The Phoenix returned to winning ways in the women's A-League in Porirua, despite being forced to play the final 25 minutes with just 10 players after Foster was sent off.
Foster was shown a straight red card for making minimal contact with Canberra forward Deven Jackson in the Phoenix box.
Mariana Speckmaier scored a goal either side of half-time and replacement keeper Brianna Edwards made an incredible penalty save to secure the Nix their first win of 2024.
Phoenix head coach Paul Temple was unable to make sense of the sending off, but said it created an amazing moment for Edwards.
Canberra dominated possession for the remaining 25 minutes but their goal scoring opportunities were few and far between.
The result meant the Phoenix jumped from 10th to sixth, at least momentarily.
The Wellington Phoenix return across the Tasman for next Sunday's match against the Newcastle Jets in Newcastle.
