The Nix faced a nervy start when at about the five-minute mark Melbourne City’s Aideen Keane split the Wellington defence wide open with a delightful through ball to Bryleeh Henry, leaving her with a one-on-one with goalkeeper Victoria Esson who did enough to put the forward off.
A VAR decision confirmed that Esson’s actions were legal, but the Australian side were on top from this point.
Melbourne City would regularly probe down their right wing, but the Nix were able to hold firm in defence early, showing why they were the best defensive side in the league this season.
The Phoenix were starved of possession and their opponents pressed effectively, making it hard for the Wellington-based side to break out of their own half.
Teen talisman Pia Vlok was pounced upon quickly by City players every time she touched the ball, with most of the attacking threat from the Nix coming from Brooke Nunn but chances were few and far between.
City’s Leticia McKenna rattled the crossbar with a free kick attempt just before the half-hour mark and the Australian side had a goal disallowed a few minutes later.
The dam had to break at some point and it did with a stunning shot from the corner of the penalty box by City’s Holly McNamara, curling the ball right over the top of Esson.
That goal rattled the Nix and regular season golden boot McNamara was back through on goal about a minute later with another ball played to her through the middle of the park that completely exposed the defence and was cooly slotted past Essen.
The second goal sparked some life into Wellington who seemed the more attacking team to end the half, but it looked like they desperately needed to head into the sheds and regroup.
Mackenzie Anthony came on at halftime and the Phoenix looked better going forward, but they still allowed Melbourne City too much time and space in midfield which resulted in a stunning long-range effort from McKenna flying past Esson and extending the Australian team’s lead.
However, the Nix finally clawed a goal back through semifinal hero Makala Woods who bounced on a loose ball after a threatening ball was played into the box.
Macey Fraser then came on for Vlok and helped the Phoenix apply more pressure on the deep-lying Melbourne defence.
Wellington had momentum on their side from that goal and put plenty of pressure on City’s goal, but the regular season table-toppers held firm, even with Fraser striking the crossbar with a speculative free kick.
City were able to fend off all the Nix threw at them and were the better side on the day, giving their opponents too high a mountain to climb in the second half.
Despite the disappointing result, the Wellington side now have the sort of big-game experience most in the squad would not have had before and, after such an impressive year alongside much of the starting XI returning next season, this could be the start of something special for the Nix.
Melbourne City 3 (Holly McNamara 41, 43, Leticia McKenna 49)
Wellington Phoenix 1 (Makala Woods 52)
HT: 2-0
