Wellington Phoenix youngster Macey Fraser has struck an early 'Goal of the Year' effort, as her team recorded their record third straight victory in the Women's A-League.
Later in the first half against Western United, the Phoenix women were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area, with Fraser, Mariana Speckmaier and captain Michaela Foster all standing over the ball.
After the whistle, Speckmaier made an aggressive run at the ball, but left it behind. Foster faked a kick, before Fraser unleashed a right foot that left United keeper Alyssa Dall'oste completely wrongfooted on her goal-line, as she watched the ball into the top lefthand corner.
"Outstanding, isn't it?" marvelled Foster. "Just brilliant.
"She came up and said, 'I back myself', so we went, 'Alright, you take it' and she did that."
Fraser, 21, is signed to the longest women's contract in the club's history and was a member of the 2018 NZ team that finished third at the 2018 U17 World Cup.
"That was just a moment of magic," said coach Paul Temple, who previously guided Fraser in the Phoenix academy. "We're very aware that she's capable of doing that and we were screaming at her to get on the free-kick.
"Personally, I think she was the best player on the pitch, just the quality she showed today in everything she did. She looked in control and very at home at this level.
"I thought that was her best performance overall and amazing goal to cap it off."
The 3-0 victory marked three consecutive wins for the first time in Phoenix women's history, after previous success against Western Sydney and Brisbane Roar. United were beaten finalists in last year's competition.
Wellington won only five games across their first two seasons, but currently sit third on the competition table with three wins and a loss in their season-opener.
"It's good for the confidence," said Temple. "I keep telling them that we're a team that is going to cause trouble for anyone in this league and we can beat anyone on our day, and we just need them to keep believing in that.
"The more we play, the more we keep winning and get on a roll, the more they believe in themselves and I think that's the key.
"They've got to keep believing in themselves. Anything's possible, if we can put it altogether."
Wellington Phoenix visit Central Coast Mariners on Saturday.
