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\nWellington Phoenix celebrate their A-League semi win over Brisbane Roar.
\nPhoto: Marty Melville\/Photosport\n<\/p>\n
Wellington Phoenix women have made club history, booking a place in the A-League grand final for the first time in an extra-time thriller.<\/p>\n
Wellington won the second leg 2-0, sending them through to next weekend’s A-League decider with Melbourne City, 3-2 on aggregate.<\/p>\n
Phoenix striker Makala Woods was the standout at Porirua Park, scoring both goals in the tense, marathon contest.<\/p>\n
The home crowd erupted, as Woods burst through the middle to level the tie 2-2 on aggregate in the 42nd minute, after teenage star Pia Vlok brilliantly curled a ball upfield for Woods.<\/p>\n
The American striker then sealed the 3-2 advantage with her winning goal in the first 15-minute period of extra-time.<\/p>\n
Wellington held Brisbane out for the second period, as the crowd of nearly 6000 reached fever pitch.<\/p>\n
Phoenix captain Mackenzie Barry told SkySport, the coach and the players’ tenacity shone through in the bruising encounter.<\/p>\n
“The girls have been amazing, Bev’s [coach Bev Priestman] been amazing. I feel like we deserve this, so I’m just so happy and can’t wait for next week.”<\/p>\n
Barry said that winning the high ball throughout the match was critical to the victory.<\/p>\n
“Just smart choices at the back. Winning first and second balls, they dominated that last week but I think this time we won all the aerial duels and that’s what really helped us win the game.”<\/p>\n
Goal scorer Makala Woods said teenage sensation Pia Vlok was a creative force for the Phoenix.<\/p>\n
“Pia, I wish I was like that at 17, she takes people on, she’s so confident and she brings something creative and new to our frontline. It makes my job so much easier if Pia’s on the field,” Woods said.<\/p>\n
“I’m so overwhelmed, it just means so much. This group of girls, how can you not love them?<\/p>\n
The American striker said she thought she’d bottled it after missing a chance in the last minute of regular time.<\/p>\n
“That broke my heart right in the moment, but my team’s so amazing they rallied behind me,” Woods said.<\/p>\n
“I wanted to sob in that moment but my teammates picked me up.”<\/p>\n
An elated coach Bev Priestman said the team’s “unbelievable bench and good depth” made the difference, particularly in extra-time.<\/p>\n
“I knew the momentum was with us,” Priestman said.<\/p>\n
“I knew in extra-time we could get the job done and I’m so proud of them.<\/p>\n
“I think it was, keep going we’ve got them. And I must say my staff put in a massive amount of effort. We put gels into them in the 75th minute for extra time and we looked like we had them, so yeah.”<\/p>\n
Melbourne City earned grand final hosting rights, after finishing top of the league table in the regular season, then overcoming crosstown rivals Melbourne Victory in the semis.<\/p>\n
The Wellington women have ended the club’s 19-year grand final drought – the Phoenix men were eliminated the preliminary final in 2010.<\/p>\n
The women’s team joined the A-League in the 2021\/22 season, with their best finish seventh before this season.<\/p>\n
See how the game unfolded here: <\/p>\n