Brooke Nunn scored in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time to secure the Phoenix a 2-2 draw with the Brisbane Roar at Kayo Stadium on Saturday night.
Manaia Elliott opened the scoring for the Nix in the 15th minute, but the Roar equalised almost instantly and took the lead shortly after the half-hour mark.
Phoenix head coach Bev Priestman was satisfied to leave Brisbane with a draw.
"If you’d asked me at the beginning of the game I’d say no, but you ask me at the end and yes, I’m very happy to take the point", Priestman said after the game.
"Overall, whenever you take points on the road you have to be happy.
"The first half we weren’t at our best. They changed shape and we took some adjusting to that.
"But in the second half we did a much better job of preventing any shots.
"What I’m most proud of is that the team never gave up and they went to the very end. Sometimes some of the best teams cannot be at their best and still take points out of a game, especially on the road.
"And to get back-to-back points on the road and three games undefeated, we have to also be proud of that."
The Phoenix remain fifth on the A-League Women ladder, a point behind reigning premiers Melbourne City, whom they host at Porirua Park this Saturday.
Wellington may be without star forward Sabitra "Samba" Bhandari, who limped off with a knee injury late in the second half.
"We’re not sure yet but I think she’ll definitely need to get a scan on her knee", Priestman said.
"It could be nothing, but it also could be something and it’s something we need to look into."
Priestman made two changes to the XI that started Tuesday night’s 3-0 win over the Western Sydney Wanderers, one of which was enforced with captain CJ Bott ruled out with a knock.
New signing Emma Pijnenburg was named to make her starting debut in Bott’s place, while Elliott came into the side in place of fellow wingback Lara Wall.
Elliott put the Phoenix in front with a speculative effort from distance wide on the left. She saw Roar goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln off her line and tucked her shot inside the right-hand post as Lincoln scrambled backwards.
Brisbane equalised almost straight from the kick-off with American Ashlyn Miller finishing from the top of the box after they found space down the left flank.
The Roar took the lead with a goal-of-the-season contender in the 34th minute. Ava Piazza produced a thumping strike from distance that flew into the back of the net after Wellington keeper Victoria Esson had punched away the original free kick.
The Phoenix threw everything at the Roar in the second half, forcing Lincoln into several saves.
It seemed Wellington’s efforts would be in vain until the eighth minute of added time when Nunn delivered a cross from the right flank that beat Lincoln at her near post.
— Allied Media
