Teen Subs Score Late to Put Phoenix in Top Six

Sometimes the youngest players deliver the biggest moments when their team needs them most.

Nineteen-year-old Zoe Benson and 17-year-old Pia Vlok came off the bench Saturday night to score late goals that secured Wellington Phoenix a dramatic 2-0 victory against second-place Canberra United. The win pushed the Phoenix into sixth place in the A-League Women standings, just three points away from second with a game in hand.

Benson broke through first in the 86th minute with her first professional goal after signing with Phoenix following her championship season with Auckland United. Then Vlok sealed the victory with a spectacular strike from 20 meters out in the final seconds of stoppage time, catching the goalkeeper out of position.

The breakthrough came after a frustrating night for Phoenix against a Canberra side playing with 10 players for the entire second half. Despite the numerical advantage following a red card just before halftime, Wellington struggled to create clear chances until their young substitutes changed everything.

Coach Bev Priestman made the bold decision to turn to her bench with the score locked at zero. Her faith in youth paid off immediately as the teenagers provided the spark their team desperately needed.

Why This Inspires

This victory represents more than just three points in the standings. It showcases a club culture that genuinely believes in developing young talent and giving them meaningful opportunities when it matters most.

Priestman summed it up perfectly after the match: "This club is big on promoting young players but if they're good enough they're old enough." That philosophy created a moment these teenagers will remember forever while proving that age doesn't determine readiness.

The win also demonstrates the power of patience and persistence. Phoenix kept believing in their game plan even when the goals wouldn't come, trusting that their moment would arrive.

For Benson and Vlok, this represents the beginning of what could be brilliant careers. They showed composure beyond their years when the pressure was highest, delivering for their teammates when it mattered most.

The victory ended Canberra's impressive seven-game unbeaten run and prevented them from reclaiming first place in the league. More importantly, it announced that Wellington Phoenix has something special brewing with their young core of players ready to make an impact.

Sometimes the best stories happen when you give talented young people a chance to prove themselves on the biggest stage.