Wellington’s two entries have continued their promising start to the Women’s National League with both sides remaining unbeaten after two rounds.
CF Waterside Karori and CF Wellington United drew 1-1 in the opening round and both followed up with wins in their latest games.
Waterside Karori beat former champions Canterbury United Pride 4-1, finishing the game strongly.
With the scores level at 1-1 with 13 minutes of normal time left, the Wellington side found an extra gear with late goals from Saskia Vosper, Nikki Furukawa and then Kennedy Bryant deep in stoppage time.
Main photo: Former Wellington Phoenix defender Saskia Vosper … on the scoresheet for Waterside Karori.
Wellington United beat Central Football 3-0 to stay in the top four.
Both sides are hybrid teams, combining Capital Football and the two Wellington clubs, as a step towards having the competition a fully club-based model by next year.
Despite their good starts to the season, the Wellington clubs will face Auckland sides for the first time in their schedule in round 3.
Waterside Karori host Auckland United while Wellington United go north to play league newcomers Ellerslie.
Meanwhile, Western Springs continued their winning start to the competition with a 3-0 win against Ellerslie, after their 8-0 blitz against Central Football a week before.
Eastern Suburbs are the only other side with maximum points, thanks to a 3-2 win against crosstown rivals Auckland United.
Nicole Cooper scored a hat-trick, with two goals in the last 10 minutes, to get the Lilywhites home at Madills Farm.
Southern United beat Wellington Phoenix 5-0, led by an Amy Hislop hat-trick, indicating they could be the surprise team in the competition.
They lost their opener 1-0 to Eastern Suburbs. But their real test comes next weekend when they host leaders Western Springs.
Results — Round 2
Game played on Friday September 29, 2023
Western Springs 3 (Liz Savage 3′, Lily Jervis 12′, Sofia Garcia 63′)
Ellerslie 0
Game played on Saturday September 30, 2023
CF Wellington United 3 (Jemma Robertson 6′, Natalie Olson 71′, Pepi Olliver-Bell 82′)
Central Football 0
Games played on Sunday October 1, 2023
Wellington Phoenix 0
Southern United 5 (Amy Hislop 6′, 38′, 67′ pen, Kendrah Smith 37′, Margarida Dias 59′)
Canterbury United Pride 1 (Charlotte Roche 48′)
CF Waterside Karori 4 (Nikki Furukawa 41′, 88′, Saskia Vosper 77′, Kennedy Bryant 90+9′)
Eastern Suburbs 3 (Nicole Cooper 14′, 80′, 87′)
Auckland United 2 (Rene Wasi 2′, Bree Johnson 15′)
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