Reds beaten 2-0 by Wellington Phoenix at ServiceFM Stadium despite holding most of the ball

It was a disappointing afternoon for the Reds at ServiceFM Stadium, where Tameka Yallop’s early goal put Wellington Phoenix in front and Indiah-Paige Riley sealed it late.

United were on the front foot for long stretches and kept pressing for a way back, but Wellington were sharp when it mattered and the home side could not turn their control into a goal.

First half

Adelaide United had the first sight of goal at ServiceFM Stadium in the tenth minute, when Emily Hodgson’s right-footed shot from the left side of the box was blocked. It was an early sign that the Reds were prepared to take the game to Wellington Phoenix.

The visitors struck first in the 15th minute. Makala Woods provided the assist, and Tameka Yallop took it from the centre of the box, sending a left-footed shot into the top left corner to make it 1-0 to Wellington.

United responded straight away. Paige Zois sent a right-footed effort from outside the box to the left of goal following a set piece in the 16th minute, and Holly Murray was shown a yellow card for a foul in the 23rd minute.

The Reds settled on the ball and kept pushing for a way back. Kiera Meyers had a left-footed shot from the right side of the box saved by Brooke Neary in the 25th minute after Lara Gooch’s pass, and Chelsie Dawber tested Neary from outside the box in the 33rd, again set up by Gooch.

Wellington carried some threat at the other end. Ilona Melegh saved Woods’ right-footed shot from the centre of the box in the 31st minute, and Woods headed a Milly Clegg cross wide of the left post four minutes later. United went into the break 1-0 down.

Second half

Wellington Phoenix made a triple change at the break, Manaia Elliott, Emma Main and Indiah-Paige Riley coming on for Kamila Pickett, Pia Vlok and Milly Clegg. The Reds started the second half on the front foot, and Kiera Meyers sent a left-footed effort from outside the box high and wide in the 48th minute after Adriana Taranto’s pass.

Main tested Ilona Melegh from the left side of the box a minute later, but United kept pressing. Lara Gooch had a right-footed shot from the right side of the box saved low by Brooke Neary in the 52nd minute, and Melissa Taranto’s right-footed effort from the left side of the box went just wide of the right post.

Theo Tsiounis turned to his bench, with Tessa Salvestrin replacing Gooch in the 57th minute, and United went close. Adriana Taranto hit the left post in the 65th minute with a right-footed shot from the left side of the six-yard box after Salvestrin’s cross, and Salvestrin then dragged a right-footed shot from the centre of the box wide of the left post a minute later.

India Breier and Isabella Yakel came on for Emily Hodgson and Holly Murray in the 67th minute, and Brooke Nunn was shown a yellow card for a foul two minutes later. Carina Rossi and Maeve Nicholas followed for Chelsie Dawber and Melissa Taranto in the 79th and 80th minutes as the Reds kept going, and Paige Zois sent a left-footed effort from outside the box high and wide after a corner in the 85th minute.

Wellington sealed it in the 88th minute. Elliott set up Riley, who struck a right-footed shot from the centre of the box into the high centre of the goal for 2-0. Rossi had a left-footed effort from outside the box saved by Neary a minute later, and Lara Wall replaced Nunn in stoppage time before the final whistle confirmed the 2-0 defeat.

Full time

This is a result the Reds will want to put right. Wellington Phoenix were clinical with the chances that came their way, and the 2-0 scoreline is not one to dress up. Brooke Neary made four saves for the visitors while Ilona Melegh was called on twice at the other end, which told the story of a match decided by the finishing touch rather than the amount of the ball.

There is still something to hold on to in how United went about it. The Reds had the bulk of possession and completed 297 of 404 passes against Wellington’s 196 from 307, and the shot count was close at 11 to 10, with four on target each. That control is a foundation to build on, even if it did not bring a goal, and the head-to-head between the two clubs now stands level at six wins apiece.

Match details

Next match

Adelaide United travel to face Melbourne Victory at Home of the Matildas Main Pitch on Saturday 14 November, with kick-off at 3:00pm local time, as the Reds look to get their season moving against a side sitting near the top of the table.