Wellington Phoenix striker Makala Woods shakes off late miss to seal extra-time victory

Sunday, 10 May 2026

American striker Makala Woods was the hero for Wellington Phoenix, scoring the extra-time winner to send the club into their first A-League Women grand final.

But moments before her 102nd-minute goal sealed a dramatic 3-2 aggregate victory over Brisbane Roar, Woods wanted the ground at Porirua Park to swallow her up after missing two gilt-edged chances to clinch it in the dying seconds of regulation time.

Woods, who scored the opener in the 42nd minute to wipe out the deficit from last week’s 2-1 first-leg defeat in Brisbane, was put through on goal again in the sixth minute of stoppage time, only to be denied by Brisbane goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln, whose clutch save forced extra time.

Phoenix goalkeeper Victoria Esson went long and the ball skimmed off the head of a Brisbane midfielder, sending Woods one-on-one with Lincoln with seconds remaining.

Minutes earlier, Woods shot wide after being played in by replacement Mackenzie Anthony.

“I wanted to die. I did. I wanted to die. I think I would have taken that very heavily. I think it’ll still be in my nightmares, but I just have a great group of girls and everybody lifted me up,” the match winner said after the game.

Woods atoned for the misses in the first half of extra time, coolly finishing past Lincoln in the 102nd minute from a deep Brooke Nunn cross, which Roar defender Angie Beard failed to deal with, to complete the comeback seven days after the Phoenix lost the first leg in Brisbane.

After taking the aggregate lead, the Phoenix survived a tense second half of extra time to secure their place in next weekend’s grand final against premiers Melbourne City at AAMI Park (6.15pm NZT).

Woods’ brace ended a dry spell, scoreless in five games before Sunday after a spectacular start to life at the Phoenix. She has seven goals in 14 appearances.

She watched the closing stages from the bench after coach Bev Priestman withdrew her at halftime of extra time.

“I felt like I was going to throw up on the sideline. I’ve never been so anxious, but that’s just how much it means to these girls.

“I’m not a player who does individual brilliance. It’s the 10 players behind me. Without them I’m nothing. They continued to put me in good spots and I owed it to them to put it in the back of the net.”

Woods broke the deadlock three minutes before halftime to draw the Phoenix level on aggregate after 17-year-old Pia Vlok sparked the move with a superb pass from halfway.

Woods raced onto it and guided her finish past Lincoln, sending Porirua Park into jubilation.

The celebrations continued as Woods scored again in extra time to secure a 2-0 win, 3-2 on aggregate.

“In both goals, from Pia and Brooke, they put so much trust in me and when you have people who believe in you like that, you just want to do the best for them,” Woods said.

“I felt I owed it to them to put the ball in the back of the net, especially with those two missed chances at the end of the 90.”