Sydney FC women fall 3-1 to Wellington Phoenix, slip to seventh after second loss

Sydney FC lost 3-1 to Wellington Phoenix in the Ninja A-League on Sunday, suffering a second defeat of the campaign and slipping to seventh on the ladder.

Behind after six minutes

The match at Porirua Park was the Phoenix's first at home this season. It took the hosts just six minutes to open the scoring, as Brooke Nunn was released down the right and squared the ball for Indiah-Paige Riley to tap home from close range. Milly Clegg then coolly dispatched a penalty after she was brought down inside the box by Willa Pearson, giving the Phoenix a 2-0 lead at half-time.

Sydney's second-half fightback falls short

Sydney came out fighting in the second half, using the wind to their advantage. In the 32nd minute, forward Riley Cohn drilled a powerful effort on target that was well saved by stand-in Phoenix keeper Brooke Neary. Sydney finally pulled one back in the 77th minute, when defender Maddie Caspers ghosted into the box to head home Cohn's corner.

But the Phoenix put the game to bed from a set-piece of their own in the 84th minute, as towering midfielder Grace Jale bundled the ball home at the back post to make it 3-1. The win was the Phoenix's second of the season and lifted them to fifth on the ladder, while Sydney FC sit seventh after their second loss.

What comes next

Wellington next travel to Western Sydney to take on the Wanderers in Matchweek 6, while Sydney FC will look to bounce back when they host Canberra United on November 21.

(Source: A-Leagues, Nov. 15, 2026.)