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A-League: Wellington Phoenix reach first ever Grand Final to face four-time winners Melbourne City
The 2025/26 Ninja A-League Grand Final is set after Melbourne City and Wellington Phoenix both came through their respective semi-finals.
Premiers Melbourne City were first to punch their ticket to the big dance as they recorded a 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory to advance 2-0 on aggregate.
Meanwhile, Wellington Phoenix have qualified for their first ever Grand Final after coming back from 2-1 down in their first leg against Brisbane Roar. Here’s how the second leg action unfolded.
Recap the first leg results of the A-League Women’s semi-finals here
Melbourne City reach sixth Grand Final
Seventeen-year-old midfielder Shelby McMahon gave Melbourne City the lead over their derby rivals with a stunning 34th-minute half volley.
With Victory now two goals behind on aggregate, Holly Furphy went close to reducing the arrears when her long-range effort forced a scrambling Malena Mieres into a diving stop.
Aideen Keane nearly doubled City’s lead on the day, but her low drive was well pushed away by Courtney Newbon.
With 15 minutes left, Nikki Flannery fired over on the turn for Victory. Into added time, Alana Jančevski struck the bar as City closed out the win to advance to their sixth Grand Final.
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Wellington Phoenix make history against Brisbane Roar
Across the ditch, Bev Priestman’s Wellington Phoenix made history as they qualified for their first Grand Final.
Makala Woods’ double saw them turn around a 2-1 first leg defeat against Brisbane Roar in front of a record 5,923 crowd at Porirua Park.
Daisy Brown had a great opportunity to open the scoring for the Roar, but could only fire straight at Victoria Esson with half an hour played.
Woods bagged her first just before the break when she latched onto Pia Vlok’s long ball over the top and lifted the ball over the advancing Chloe Lincoln.
In the dying minutes of normal time, Brooke Nunn very nearly won it for the Nix, but her shot looped over Lincoln and onto the top of the bar.
With 15 seconds left, Woods was denied by a brilliant stop from Lincoln who stood tall. The ball came back to the American, but she struck the outside of the post to ensure the game would enter extra time.
Embed from Getty Images
Not to be denied, Woods was on hand to capitalise when Nunn’s through-ball caused chaos between Angie Beard and Lincoln. Woods nipped in to roll the ball into a virtually out net.
That proved to be the decisive moment as the Phoenix booked their spot in Saturday’s showpiece.
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