Belief is high in the Wellington Phoenix women's camp as they chase A-League football history in Melbourne tomorrow.
They meet Melbourne City in the grand final, seeking to secure a first title by any New Zealand team.
Defender Lucia Leon joined D’Arcy to discuss the potentially history-making match.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk S'B.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Let's talk about big stuff and football. I ever thought
I hear myself say this big stuff before, and there's
huge stuff in football going on. The Wellington Phoenix, the
women the Aenix have made history. It's the first time
the club the peered in an A League final and
the nineteen year history of the Phoenix. They're faced with
(00:31):
a massive challenge, of course they are, but they've had
massive challenges all year as a bother them all season.
Excuse me, no, no it hasn't. But they're taking on
Melbourne City at home. The team, the women's side, are
still yet to beat since they entered the competition in
twenty twenty one. Lucilla Leon is a defender for the club.
(00:52):
Enci joins us now good morning, they see her.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Good morning, good morning.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
How are you.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
I'm looking forward to this evening, probably not as much
as you and the team are. How are you going
when it comes to keeping a on the expectation or
are you kind of play that actually rebels.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
In this I think we've been doing quite well under pressure. Actually,
I think we've got a lot of a mix in
the team with experienced players and young players are brave
and are hungry, and I think, for me individually, I
think this is why I came into this league, why
I came into this team, especially to be in this situation.
(01:33):
So so I'm really looking forward to it. I'm really
excited and motivated.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
And I am I am ready. Yeah, we're already.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Well, So you don't try and hold that back. You
actually just celebrate and the joy for you is all
part of it. So you go on this with a
huge smile on your face, really to smash Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Good, that's that's that's the whole point.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
We were trying to enjoy and we're trying to be
in the president as much as we can. We're trying
to love each other. No, we're trying. We love each other.
We are read together in this team. And then what
went for us very well against Brisbane that we we
were together and we suffered together and we then celebrated together.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
And I think that is going to be the key.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
That was an extraordinary game last week, wasn't it. That
was an extraordinary fact. Yeah, I'm more so for the crowd.
Must have been great playing in such close confides are
that many people basically breathing down your nick like that
were right there.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
Yeah, yeah, no, it was amazing. Probably games in atmosphere
I've ever played.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
It was. It was great.
Speaker 4 (02:37):
I don't think I obviously believe in my team one
hundred and ten percent, one hundred and fifty percent, but
that crowd, man, like if we weren't for them, that
energy also one hundred and twenty minutes. And if you
watch the game, like it was all about us, like
we were on the top for like the last like
maybe sixty minutes and we were trying to like score
(03:00):
that second goal and hungry for it, and that crowd
just just drove us up there energy and hunger.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
It was amazing. It was so good and we were
so grateful for them.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
I think that drive Michaylor as well. And you got
to be sad for her when she had a shot
and it went off the cost bar, I know it
was the cossidan and then the pace. Yeah, that was
huge in she obviously feeds off this something chronic right yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Yeah, no, I mean I mean she's such a hard
worker and she gets herself into positions to score and
and that's what's the need to remember that a lot
of the goals. He like that first goal was amazing,
was like so so hard to control the ball between
two center backs and then and then finish it off
like top corner.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
It was. It was a great finish. So so when
she missed.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
That, like we knew that she was going to get
another one, and we just wanted her to stay in
the games. She's very emotional, but she she lot backed
in and and and had a couple more chances, and
when and when he came to it, he was right
right time, right place, and and she put it home
and as she served it for sure, and the team
deserves it.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Handerson.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Now they see a Leon's taking on. Well, what's their teammates?
Of course Melbourne City in the final early the savning
or late this afternoon, depending on how you place that,
roughly six o'clock. You've got a game against Melbourne City,
who are on an absolute run. At the moment, I think,
gee the one. I think they've drawn one of the
last five something games, but they keep winning. They're in
(04:31):
pretty frightening form right now. How do you stop them?
Speaker 3 (04:35):
Well, with City, they're always kind of on great form.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
They really they rarely lose two games in a row,
so so for us as openings to play against them,
we just got to like analyze them very well and
then see what their witnesses are and.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
And we create our strengths.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
We've played them twice now this season and the first
time we probably should have won the match and and
a sad piece let us down. So we're really working
on them, making sure that that we nullify those those
sepieces opportunities that they have. And then when it comes
to open play, we are also on a highway with confidence.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
We're hungry and this is.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
The first time this club has ever been in this position,
so we're going to give it all and and hopefully
that would be enough to be a potential complacent team.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
You've been giving it all right the way through the season,
and I'm interested in your story too. You were born
in Spain of Dominican Republic. Parents are you're representing the
Dominican Republic. But you've played in the A league. You
played over in Spain, you've played over in England as
well for a while. It can be to all those
places you played. Where does the I League then a
(05:45):
league set in terms of competition?
Speaker 4 (05:48):
This league is remind limiting of the Super super League
in England a few years ago. Basically when I when
it first started, was very physical, not so much tactical.
Maybe teams like Victory and City are the most like
tactical teams there there are in this league and US,
but yeah, very physical or transitional when it comes to competing.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
You have to be very fit in.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
This league, which is yeah, something that this team has
gotten very well this year. Like if you see us
and towards the end of the game, like really any
of our players were like struggling to finish the one
hundred and twenty minutes. And I think that's one of
the keys for this league and to compete well. And yeah,
(06:35):
it's slowly progressing. There's a lot of things that need
to be looked at and look to be fixed in
order to compete with other leagues in Europe and in
the US or even in Mexico. So so yeah, I
think it's a long way to go, but it's slowly progressing,
and just wish that.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
You progress a little bit quicker.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
So players like international players or local players or national
players can can like compete for international sports and compete
for the national teams and stuff butt at the moment.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
It's a leader that needs to needs help in in
many other aspects, not just their football aspects.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Cea Leon, thanks so much for joining us. Really appreciate
your honesty. If anything, and if you think you were tired,
I was lying on the couch and I was exhausted
at the end of the game, You're not the only
one going through the pain.
Speaker 4 (07:30):
I'll tell you, thank you, thank you. I know we'll
please appreciate all the support.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
For more from the Your Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
Listen live to news talks that'd be on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk S'B.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Let's talk about big stuff and football. I ever thought
I hear myself say this big stuff before, and there's
huge stuff in football going on. The Wellington Phoenix, the
women the Aenix have made history. It's the first time
the club the peered in an A League final and
the nineteen year history of the Phoenix. They're faced with
(00:31):
a massive challenge, of course they are, but they've had
massive challenges all year as a bother them all season.
Excuse me, no, no it hasn't. But they're taking on
Melbourne City at home. The team, the women's side, are
still yet to beat since they entered the competition in
twenty twenty one. Lucilla Leon is a defender for the club.
(00:52):
Enci joins us now good morning, they see her.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Good morning, good morning.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
How are you.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
I'm looking forward to this evening, probably not as much
as you and the team are. How are you going
when it comes to keeping a on the expectation or
are you kind of play that actually rebels.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
In this I think we've been doing quite well under pressure. Actually,
I think we've got a lot of a mix in
the team with experienced players and young players are brave
and are hungry, and I think, for me individually, I
think this is why I came into this league, why
I came into this team, especially to be in this situation.
(01:33):
So so I'm really looking forward to it. I'm really
excited and motivated.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
And I am I am ready. Yeah, we're already.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Well, So you don't try and hold that back. You
actually just celebrate and the joy for you is all
part of it. So you go on this with a
huge smile on your face, really to smash Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Good, that's that's that's the whole point.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
We were trying to enjoy and we're trying to be
in the president as much as we can. We're trying
to love each other. No, we're trying. We love each other.
We are read together in this team. And then what
went for us very well against Brisbane that we we
were together and we suffered together and we then celebrated together.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
And I think that is going to be the key.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
That was an extraordinary game last week, wasn't it. That
was an extraordinary fact. Yeah, I'm more so for the crowd.
Must have been great playing in such close confides are
that many people basically breathing down your nick like that
were right there.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
Yeah, yeah, no, it was amazing. Probably games in atmosphere
I've ever played.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
It was. It was great.
Speaker 4 (02:37):
I don't think I obviously believe in my team one
hundred and ten percent, one hundred and fifty percent, but
that crowd, man, like if we weren't for them, that
energy also one hundred and twenty minutes. And if you
watch the game, like it was all about us, like
we were on the top for like the last like
maybe sixty minutes and we were trying to like score
(03:00):
that second goal and hungry for it, and that crowd
just just drove us up there energy and hunger.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
It was amazing. It was so good and we were
so grateful for them.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
I think that drive Michaylor as well. And you got
to be sad for her when she had a shot
and it went off the cost bar, I know it
was the cossidan and then the pace. Yeah, that was
huge in she obviously feeds off this something chronic right yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Yeah, no, I mean I mean she's such a hard
worker and she gets herself into positions to score and
and that's what's the need to remember that a lot
of the goals. He like that first goal was amazing,
was like so so hard to control the ball between
two center backs and then and then finish it off
like top corner.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
It was. It was a great finish. So so when
she missed.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
That, like we knew that she was going to get
another one, and we just wanted her to stay in
the games. She's very emotional, but she she lot backed
in and and and had a couple more chances, and
when and when he came to it, he was right
right time, right place, and and she put it home
and as she served it for sure, and the team
deserves it.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Handerson.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Now they see a Leon's taking on. Well, what's their teammates?
Of course Melbourne City in the final early the savning
or late this afternoon, depending on how you place that,
roughly six o'clock. You've got a game against Melbourne City,
who are on an absolute run. At the moment, I think,
gee the one. I think they've drawn one of the
last five something games, but they keep winning. They're in
(04:31):
pretty frightening form right now. How do you stop them?
Speaker 3 (04:35):
Well, with City, they're always kind of on great form.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
They really they rarely lose two games in a row,
so so for us as openings to play against them,
we just got to like analyze them very well and
then see what their witnesses are and.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
And we create our strengths.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
We've played them twice now this season and the first
time we probably should have won the match and and
a sad piece let us down. So we're really working
on them, making sure that that we nullify those those
sepieces opportunities that they have. And then when it comes
to open play, we are also on a highway with confidence.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
We're hungry and this is.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
The first time this club has ever been in this position,
so we're going to give it all and and hopefully
that would be enough to be a potential complacent team.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
You've been giving it all right the way through the season,
and I'm interested in your story too. You were born
in Spain of Dominican Republic. Parents are you're representing the
Dominican Republic. But you've played in the A league. You
played over in Spain, you've played over in England as
well for a while. It can be to all those
places you played. Where does the I League then a
(05:45):
league set in terms of competition?
Speaker 4 (05:48):
This league is remind limiting of the Super super League
in England a few years ago. Basically when I when
it first started, was very physical, not so much tactical.
Maybe teams like Victory and City are the most like
tactical teams there there are in this league and US,
but yeah, very physical or transitional when it comes to competing.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
You have to be very fit in.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
This league, which is yeah, something that this team has
gotten very well this year. Like if you see us
and towards the end of the game, like really any
of our players were like struggling to finish the one
hundred and twenty minutes. And I think that's one of
the keys for this league and to compete well. And yeah,
(06:35):
it's slowly progressing. There's a lot of things that need
to be looked at and look to be fixed in
order to compete with other leagues in Europe and in
the US or even in Mexico. So so yeah, I
think it's a long way to go, but it's slowly progressing,
and just wish that.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
You progress a little bit quicker.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
So players like international players or local players or national
players can can like compete for international sports and compete
for the national teams and stuff butt at the moment.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
It's a leader that needs to needs help in in
many other aspects, not just their football aspects.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Cea Leon, thanks so much for joining us. Really appreciate
your honesty. If anything, and if you think you were tired,
I was lying on the couch and I was exhausted
at the end of the game, You're not the only
one going through the pain.
Speaker 4 (07:30):
I'll tell you, thank you, thank you. I know we'll
please appreciate all the support.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
For more from the Your Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
Listen live to news talks that'd be on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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