The Wellington Phoenix have suffered defeat in a six-goal thriller with Western United to open the latest A-League Women's season. Make sure you join us again on Tribe throughout the weekend for live coverage of the rest of the A-Leagues action, including tomorrow's much-anticipated Kiwi Derby between the Phoenix and Auckland. It's been a pleasure bringing you all the action from Tarneit tonight. For now, Harrison Ryburn signing out.

Wellington return across the ditch for their first home match of the season against Canberra United in Porirua next Sunday, whilst Western United are next in action next Friday back here in Tarneit against the Mariners.

Western United were ruthless in contrast, and showed a clinical touch in the final third to blow Wellington off the park in that first half. They didn't neccessarily impresss with the way they kept hold of the ball, and often looked flustered under pressure with possession inside their own half. When they got forward on the transition they took full advantage though, and the likes of Logarzo, Johnson, and Zimmerman all impressed with their eye for the back of the net. Perhaps Kat Smith will be dissapointed that they leaked a second goal late on, but her team noticeably took their foot off the gas in the second stanza, and appeared to struggle slightly after the pace with which the first half was played at. A season opening win is never normally completely pretty though, and Western United can take heart from getting three points on the board first up.

The half-time break gave them a chance to reset, and they looked a lot more controlled in the second stanza, dictating over 60% of the possession, and the majority of the field position. The amount of chances they created will please Temple too, and they looked dangerous down the flanks with Elliott and Tanaka, even if it left them exposed at the other end of the pitch. Plenty to work with going forward in the new campaign as such, and importantly Temple got a response from his team after their first half collapse.

Despite defeat, there were some things to like about what Wellington put together with a new-look squad tonight. They started strong and totally dominated the first fifteen, taking advantage with the opening goal. Paul Temple's women then appeared to switch off though, conceding straight from the restart, and shipping four first half goals as the result of a number of poor defensive errors. They left too many numbers forward too often, and were reguarly exposed in transition, whilst also making numerous costly errors attempting to play out from the back.

Fulltime in Tarneit and Western United have opened the new A-League Women's season with victory over the Wellington Phoenix in a six-goal thriller. A Sasha Grove own goal put the visitors ahead after a dominant first fifteen minutes, but it took seconds for Western to respond, levelling straight from the kick-off through Chloe Logarzo, before taking the lead three minutes later with Aimee Medwin. Two defensive errors in the space of two minutes allowed the hosts to extend their advantage, as Kahli Johnson and Catherine Zimmerman found the back of the net. After a breathless opening stanza, the game died down in the second half though, and the Phoenix added a late consolation from the spot with Emma Main to finish the scoring. It continue's Wellington's record of having never won a season opener, whilst Western United can take plenty of confidence heading into the new campaign.

The second corner, this time off the right, is headed away at the near post, and Western United hoof far away downfield. It comes all the way back for Vilao, who's long ball forward doesn't find a teammate.

Wall bursts forward down the left wing, as Wellington continue to fight late on. She powers a low delivery into the near post for Ingham, who wins a corner off Grove. Longo whips it into the back post, where McCutcheon's lunge is blocked off the line and cleared by Taranto.

Main and Whinham trade passes down the right wing, before the latter picks out the run of Longo down the right-hand side of the box. The captain tries to cut it back for one of her teammates, but Dall'Oste reads it well and dives in the way to collect, before launching away downfield.