Phoenix women get a point from drawn debut

First game, first point.

Wellington Phoenix made an impressive start to life in the A-League Women, holding Western Sydney Wanderers to a 0-0 draw in their inaugural game last night.

Coach Gemma Lewis promised an aggressive style of play, and the Phoenix lived up to that, putting the Wanderers under all sorts of pressure with their high work rate on defence at WIN Stadium in Wollongong.

Wanderers started and finished the stronger of the two teams – Sheridan Gallagher even hit the crossbar after carving through midfield early on – but the Phoenix were equal to the challenge, and looked the dominant team in the middle stages.

Grace Wisnewski had three headers on target while Chloe Knott was left to rue a poor finish after turning the ball over high up the pitch.

Lewis named an inexperienced starting XI with an average age of only 20 and they lined up in a 4-3-3 formation with Football Fern Grace Jale leading the line flanked by Jordan Jasnos and Ava Pritchard.

Wisnewski, Chloe Knott and Isabel Gomez formed a midfield trio with Kate Taylor and Mackenzie Barry starting in the heart of defence in between Saskia Vosper and Zoe McMeeken, who was impressed down the left.

Captain Lily Alfeld started in goal and was rarely tested by the Wanderers, making only three saves.

The Phoenix were dealt a blow on the eve of kickoff with Kelli Brown ruled out with an ankle injury while the start of the game was delayed 15 minutes due to lightning in the area adding to the tension for the Phoenix.