Wellington Phoenix import left with golf ball-sized lump above her eye after nasty head knock

Hope Breslin looked like she had gone 10 rounds with world champion boxer Mea Motu as she was led off the field late in Wellington Phoenix’s 1-0 defeat to Central Coast Mariners on Saturday night.

The American winger suffered significant swelling above her right eye and was unable to open it the morning after the match in Gosford, following a nasty clash of heads with an opposition defender.

Determined to find a way back into the game after conceding moments earlier, Breslin showed bravery to hurl herself towards a cross floated into the penalty area from the right.

She won the aerial duel and thumped a header towards goal, only to butt heads with an opposition defender during her follow-through.

The former Angel City player, who was the Phoenix women’s team’s first-ever import signing, was floored by the sickening challenge and had to be replaced with 10 minutes remaining.

After receiving treatment on the pitch, Breslin was helped to the sideline by two trainers, and a lump above her right eye had already swelled to the size of a golf ball.

Speaking after the match, Phoenix coach Paul Temple said Breslin was “in reasonably good spirits considering”, but was looking a little worse for wear.

Breslin posted a series of photos on Instagram on Sunday morning showing her right eye closed firmly shut and badly bruised.

The Phoenix were due to return to Wellington in the afternoon and Temple said the club would continue to monitor her throughout the week.

“She’s in reasonably good spirits considering, but yeah, it was a pretty nasty knock,” he said.

“It was at a stage in the game when we were really starting to push, and she’s obviously put her body on the line there, going for a header.

“Unfortunately, she came off with a head knock, and we’ll have to reassess that and see how she is through the week.

“It was not looking too nice in terms of the injury, but she seems to be OK, so that’s good.”

Saturday’s defeat ended a run of three consecutive wins.

The Phoenix conceded the only goal of the game in the 76th minute when 18-year-old Annalise Rasmussen finished off a long-range counter-attack after former Wellington midfielder Isabel Gomez forced a turnover deep in her own half.