Reds beat Phoenix, eye maiden ALW finals

Adelaide United have closed on securing a maiden A-League Women finals berth as Chelsie Dawber and Fiona Worts leapt to the top of the Golden Boot standings in a comfortable 4-1 win over last-placed Wellington.

Dawber and Wellington's Grace Jale traded goals in the fifth and 25th minutes before Phoenix youngster Zoe McMeekin's horror own goal handed Adelaide the upper hand in the 34th minute

Worts added Adelaide's third in the 55th minute, with Dawber's second four minutes later sealing victory in a game moved from Thursday night to Friday evening due to a storm at Wollongong's WIN Stadium.

In the process, the Adelaide duo drew level with Melbourne City's Hannah Wilkinson in the Golden Boot race lead with 10 goals.

But United will sweat on Dawber, who was substituted in the 78th minute after hyperextending her knee.

"I'm pretty happy with the whole team performance," Dawber told Paramount Plus.

"I was lucky enough to get two goals and be up there with Hannah and Fi. So I'm pretty happy with how I've been going so far

"I just landed a bit funny on my knee down there. I felt okay when I was playing but as I've come off it's stiffened up a bit.

"Hopefully it'll recover well and I'll be ready for the next game against Victory on Saturday (February 26)."

Adelaide sit third behind City on goal difference, ahead of two tough final regular-season games against fourth-placed Melbourne Victory and leaders Sydney FC.

"We just need to keep doing what we've been doing: believing in ourselves, performing each week," Dawber said.

"It'll be a really important game against Victory, I think that will set the tone for the rest of the season."

Wellington coach Gemma Lewis lamented the first-half own goal, when McMeeken blindly hit a