Underdog Ambitions and High Stakes
Wellington Phoenix are preparing to face Melbourne City in a high-stakes grand final, embracing the underdog status as they aim to challenge the A-League Women’s powerhouses. The Phoenix, known for their tenacity and strong performances this season, are determined to deny City a shot at an unprecedented treble.
Melbourne City has been dominant in recent years, holding the premiership for three consecutive seasons. However, they have yet to secure the championship title they so desperately seek. This opportunity comes as City hosts Wellington at AAMI Park on Saturday, with the grand final being followed by a crucial AFC Women’s Champions League semi-final.
Despite City’s impressive record against the Phoenix, having won all eight previous meetings, including both home-and-away encounters this season, the team is still considered the favorite. However, Wellington’s English coach, Bev Priestman, believes her team is well-equipped to cause an upset.
“I love being an underdog … I think it helps you,” Priestman said. “It lets you come out and swing a little bit, and it’s better to be chasing than being the one chased. But they’re a great side, they’ve got a rich history in this league and we definitely respect them.”
A Historic Moment for Wellington Phoenix
Perennial title contenders, Melbourne City have won the championship four times, though not since 2020, alongside their five premierships. In contrast, Wellington Phoenix are making their first finals series appearance in their fifth season in the competition. The Phoenix will also be playing their 100th ALW fixture in the decider, marking a significant milestone.
This achievement makes the Phoenix the first New Zealand team, whether women or men, to reach an A-Leagues grand final. Coach Priestman expressed her pride in the club’s journey, stating, “This club deserves this moment. It’s five years in the making.” She emphasized the importance of enjoying the moment while staying focused on the process that brought them to this point.
“We have to go in and enjoy the moment, but not enjoy it too much. We have to stick to the process and stick to the things that have got us here, but at the same time I think when we enjoy ourselves is when we play our best football.”
Balancing Two Big Challenges
Win or lose, Melbourne City’s post-match plans involve a brief celebration of the ALW season before heading to an airport hotel and a 7:25am flight on Sunday to South Korea. There, they will face Tokyo Verdy Beleza in the AFC Women’s Champions League semi-final.
City captain Rebekah Stott dismissed concerns about the Champions League being a distraction for her team. “We want to win but we’re focused on this game, and after this we’ll focus on the Asian Champions League,” she said. “I don’t think it’s hanging over our heads. Obviously we want to do that (win the treble) and it would be amazing, but we’re not letting that end-goal dictate how we’re feeling.”
Stott, a New Zealand international, has praised the Phoenix for their contributions to women’s football in her home country. However, she is determined to prevent them from securing their first title as City aims to rectify past near-misses, including a semi-final loss to Central Coast Mariners last year.
“It would be amazing to win this game,” Stott said. “It would mean a lot after the heartbreak of last season and not getting there, but we’re using that as motivation to really take it to them this game. I think the pressure’s on both teams. Obviously we’ve been in this situation a few times, but we’ve also had a lot of pressure on us throughout the whole season, so I think we’re good at dealing with it.”
