Wellington Phoenix have resumed their purple patch in the Women's A-League, overpowering Perth Glory 2-0 to gatecrash the playoff contenders in the Aussie competition.
Second-half goals from Grace Jale and Olivia Fergusson sealed the win at Porirua, elevating them to fifth on the table, eight points behind leaders Melbourne City.
After starting their campaign with three losses, the capital women have now won four and drawn one of their six outings since November 17, with tabletoppers City the only team to interrupt that otherwise unbeaten run, when they came from behind to prevail across the Tasman last week.
Grace Jale opened the scoring with a thunderbolt from afar. (Source: SKY)
The Wellington squad was decimated by illness after that fixture, but have bounced back in style on their home track.
After a scoreless first half, they took the initiative soon after the restart, when a clearance from goalkeeper Carolina Vilao bounced in space to Jale, who unleashed her shot from several metres outside the penalty box, skidding under diving Perth keeper Casey Dumont. The Football Ferns striker had converted a similar effort against Sydney FC two weeks ago.
In the 69th minute, Fergusson consolidated the lead, when defender Lara Wall floated a cross towards the right post, where Fergusson rose above her marker to head home the second goal.
The Phoenix faced a stern test of their abilities, with three games over eight days, as they cross the ditch to face Western Sydney on Thursday and Adelaide next Sunday.
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Wellington Phoenix 2 (Jale, Fergusson) Perth Glory 0
