Kiwi young gun helps Phoenix crush Sky Blues in ALW

Detailed summary

Four years after she shot to stardom as a goal-scoring teenager, Milly Clegg has rediscovered her best to steer Wellington Phoenix to victory over Sydney FC.

Milly Clegg has rediscovered her devastating best to steer Wellington Phoenix to a 3-1 win over Sydney FC in the A-League Women.

The rising New Zealand international was at the source of Indiah-Paige Riley's sixth-minute opener at a windy Porirua Park, before scoring herself in the 18th minute to help seal victory,

Later on Sunday, teen striker Sienna Dale was the match-winner as Canberra United posted a 1-0 win over Brisbane Roar.

The Phoenix move to fifth (2-1-2) after claiming back-to-back wins thanks to Clegg's performance, while the Sky Blues (1-1-2) sit eighth.

Four years after she shot to stardom as a goal-scoring teenager, Clegg returned to the Phoenix this season and wasted no time in making an impact in her first game back at Porirua Park.

The 21-year-old had broken away from the pack with a dashing run to help set up Riley, before a foul by Sky Blues defender Willa Pearson opened the door for her to hit the scoreboard.

Sydney threatened to at least salvage a point after halftime when Maddie Casper scored a header in the 77th minute off a corner kick from Riley Tanner.

But the visitors' comeback never came to fruition, with Grace Jale killing off the challenge with her 84th-minute goal.

Clegg had left the Phoenix in 2023 after breaking into the Football Ferns squad for that year's World Cup, going on to have various stints in the United States and Europe before returning this season.

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