Emma Main scores from the penalty spot for Wellington Phoenix against Western United. Photo: photosport
Wellington Phoenix women's coach Paul Temple has lamented a "tentative" spell as they opened their A-League season with a 4-2 loss to Western United in Melbourne.
The Phoenix were punished for a lacklustre 23-minute spell in the first half in which they conceded all four goals, having opened the scoring.
"It's tough to comprehend really what went on in that 20-minute period in the first half," Temple said.
"I thought we started the game really well and we were clearly the team in the ascendancy. We had them pegged back and it was attack after attack really.
"I didn't think we used that dominance in their box to score goals. We were a bit tentative and didn't really take those good opportunities when we got in behind them, but we deserved to be one-nil up.
"And ultimately if you defend like we did for that 20 minutes, there's no way you're going to win games at this level.
"It was sort of mistake after mistake and ultimately cost us the game."
A Wellington side featuring three debutantes in the starting side - Carolina Vilão, Maya McCutcheon and Mebae Tanaka - were more competitive than the final scoreline indicated.
They had their share of chances during an end-to-end first half but went to the interval trailing 4-1.
The Phoenix had gone ahead in the 15th minute when Alyssa Whinham won the ball high up the pitch and delivered a dangerous left-footed cross into the six-yard box, which Western's Sasha Grove turned into her own net under pressure from Tanaka.
However, Western captain Chloe Logarzo equalised from the following kick-off when she slipped in behind the Wellington back three, kick-starting the home side's run of goals.
Chloe Logarzo of Western United scores a goal against the Wellington Phoenix. Photo: photosport
Aimee Medwin slotted home Western's second, before Kahli Johnson and Logarzo scored before the break.
Temple responded by making three changes, introducing Lara Wall - on debut - and Zoe McMeeken, along with midfielder Daisy Brazendale.
The second half was less open and Wellington scored the only goal through Emma Main from the penalty spot after Wall was fouled.
Temple said there was still "lots to like" about the performance, notably the second-half response.
"Other teams may have crumbled more and the way that they came out and attacked, went for it, took risks and played some good football," he said.
"We ended up winning the second half but by that stage we'd given ourselves a tough mountain to climb.
"I don't think there's any massive systematic changes (that need to be made) or anything. It's a new system and it's always going to come with bumps in the road and for 20 minutes it was bad."
Wellington next face Canberra United in their opening home match of the season at Porirua Park on Sunday next week.
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