Wellington Phoenix have notched up their first points of the A-League Women season, with a 1-1 draw against Western Sydney at Sky Stadium.
The home side took a lead just before halftime, when a Phoenix corner bobbled around a congested goalmouth and Michaela Robertson deflected home her team's third goal in six games.
But the visitors levelled the score with a well-taken goal to Sheridan Lea Gallagher, who chased a through ball and slotted past Phoenix keeper Brianna Edwards.
Sitting at the foot of the competition, both teams entered the contest riding five-game losing streaks to start their 2022/23 campaigns - both left with something tangible to show for their efforts.
"We thought we did enough to win," said Phoenix coach Natalie Lawrence. "We had more shots, we had more crosses and more entries into the penalty box.
"We have to be more clinical, more composed. We get into those moments, and try to lash at the ball and lose our instincts a little bit.
"That probably happens when you're not scoring heaps of goals.
"We wanted to start the year against Western Sydney building and not losing, so that was one for us today. When you look at their goal, we switched off in a transitional moment and you get punished when that happens."
Wellington next face unbeaten Western United in Melbourne on Saturday.
Wellington Phoenix 1 (Robertson) Western Sydney 1 (Gallagher)
