Wellington Phoenix women have had their three-match winning streak snapped by Central Coast Mariner with a 1-0 defeat at Gosford.
The visitors had a strong penalty appeal rejected by referee Azusa Sugino and lost winger Hope Breslin to a nasty head clash that saw her helped off the field with considerable swelling above the right eye.
They eventually conceded the winner in the 76th minute, when Mariner broke into the Phoenix half and Wurigumula found substitute Annalise Rasmussen with a pinpoint cross that was stroked past keeper Rylee Foster.
The result ended Wellington's longest-ever run in the A-League, with back-to-back-to-back wins over Western Sydney, Brisbane Roar and Western United.
"It was a pretty scrappy game, lacking a lot of quality all over the pitch really, said coach Paul Temple. "We found it quite tough to get into a flow, a rhythm and pass our way through.
"We're certainly not happy with the way we played. We can be better and I think we're all a bit disappointed in that, but I can't fault the attitude and the spirit of this team."
Temple is fuming over penalty call, after Mariana Speckmaier broke into area and stumbled to the ground, under close attention from two defenders.
"I looked at it quickly on the iPad on the bench and I felt like that was a penalty live, and I felt like it was a penalty when I watched it back," he said. "She's through on goal and that was a huge, huge moment that didn't go our way.
"Those things, sometimes they go for you and sometimes they don't, and today they didn't see to go for us. That was a real momentum killer."
Breslin will be monitored during the week for her head injury.
"She's in reasonably good spirits considering," said Temple. "It was a pretty nasty knock.
"We'll have to reassess that and see how she is through the week. Not looking too nice in terms of the injury, but she seems to be okay which is good."
The outcome sees the Phoenix remain third on the competition table, but Roar can edge past with victory over Western United on Sunday.
They return to New Zealand to face tabletoppers Perth Glory at Auckland's Eden Park on Saturday.
Central Coast Mariner 1 (Rasmussen) Wellington Phoenix 0
