Phoenix women need clinical striker

Wellington Phoenix’s wasteful display against Perth Glory has laid bare the need for a quality import striker who can provide some cutting edge up front.

The Phoenix women’s team did everything but score at Sky Stadium on Saturday, producing a team record 24 shots – including 17 in the second half.

However, despite dominating most of the attacking statistics, including shots, shots on target, possession and pass completion, they came up short in the one that really mattered, losing 1-0.

The result leaves the Phoenix two points adrift at the bottom of the A-League Women table ahead of this Saturday’s wooden spoon showdown with Newcastle Jets, who have played an extra game.

The Phoenix have lost six games by a narrow one-goal margin this season, but coach Natalie Lawrence said the Glory result hurt the most because they created more than enough chances to not only win, but win well.

Glory’s American striker Cyera Hintzen showed what the Phoenix have been missing with a well-taken goal in the 10th minute.

After receiving a neat layoff from Hana Lowry on the edge of the penalty area, Hintzen buried the ball into the bottom right corner. It was one of just three shots Glory had on target.

Because any import signing would have to take the spot of a New Zealander, and they have a limit on how many Kiwis they can sign, the Phoenix have focused their recruitment on developing promising local players.

But there is now acknowledgement that one or two imports, especially a clinical striker, are needed to take the team to another level.

Imagine if they had an Oskar Zawada up front like the men do.

Of the 11 players who have scored five or more goals in the A-League Women this season, six of them are imports.

No Phoenix player has scored more than two goals, with forwards Ava Pritchard and Milly Clegg, midfielder Betsy Hassett and defender Marisa van der Meer their joint top-scorers with two each. Football Ferns Emma Rolston and Paige Satchell – two of their top recruits – are both yet to score.

Their most dangerous attacking weapon has been set-piece deliveries from left-back Michaela Foster.

That was how their best chance was created against the Glory on Saturday. Van der Meer fired a shot towards the back post from a corner but goalkeeper Sarah Langham made an important save down low to her right.

‘‘Looking ahead to next season, it probably is something you consider looking at [signing an import striker],’’ Lawrence said.

‘‘I don’t know what the restrictions will look like, I don’t know what is going to go on next season, but that is definitely the area we are struggling with.

‘‘I’m happy with the group of players we’ve got but a little more composure in the box and we wouldn’t be anywhere near the bottom of the league.’’

Glory coach Alex Epikas will tell you the difference a quality foreign forward such as Hintzen can make.

Their smash-and-grab in Wellington has kept the fifth-placed Glory in the finals hunt.

Chris Wood has been cleared to travel to New Zealand ahead of the All Whites’ friendlies against China this week, but will be assessed upon arrival before any decision on his involvement is made. The Nottingham Forest striker suffered a thigh injury in their loss to Tottenham Hotspur, six minutes after coming on as a substitute in the second half of the match in London eight days ago. He was left with a haematoma in his left thigh after catching a stray boot from Clement Lenglet as he tried to run past the Spurs defender, who had headed the ball back towards his goalkeeper. This week’s matches against China at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland on Thursday and Sky Stadium in Wellington on Sunday will present a rare chance for Kiwis to watch the 31-year-old on home soil.

Football