Brisbane Roar return from the international break with their Round 18 clash against second-placed Melbourne City at Perry Park determined for a big three points on home soil.
Roar, who currently sit tenth on the ladder, will look to bounce back to winning ways after putting in work during the week off.
With Melbourne City winless in their last four matches, and Roar winless in their last three, both teams will be looking for much-needed points on the board in this Saturday’s showdown.
WHAT WAS SAID
Head Coach Alex Smith anticipates a tough challenge from second-placed Melbourne City but is determined for his squad to secure a big three points in front of home support.
“It’s Melbourne City. They’re near the top every year, one of the reasons that I did go down there was that they like to play football. They like to have the ball; it’s going to be interesting to see how we match up cause we’re very similar and I like to play very similar,” Smith said.
“It’s going to be a good battle between two footballing teams, there’s not going to be too many long balls, hopefully not too many transitions. It should be an entertaining game to watch from a football fan point of view!”
Roar forward Bonnie Davies looks forward to playing in front of home support this Saturday and returning to winning ways.
“City are a really good team, they’ve had a good season so far. They play nice attractive football, as do we so I think it’s going to be a good contest.”
LAST TIME WE MET
Roar last faced Melbourne City in an eight-goal thriller at AAMI Park that saw the hosts take the three points.
Roar opened the scoring early on in just the 4th minute after Sharn Freier crossed the ball in for Mia Corbin to put it away and make it 1-0.
Emina Ekić found the equaliser in the 20th minute, with a shot on the angle that rolled past Jordan Silkowitz.
Just moments later, Ekić shot home her second of the night to the top left corner to extend City’s lead.
Julia Grosso made it three for the hosts just before the break, directing a header into the back of the net off a corner.
Returning from half-time, Jenna McCormick scored a header from a corner to bring Brisbane back in the game, but Ekić quickly responded to secure herself a hat trick.
A miscommunication in City’s defence presented an opportunity for Mia Corbin to find her second of the night with a cut-back and shot from inside the box to make it 4-3.
A foul by Teagan Thompson in the box saw Melbourne City convert a penalty to seal a 5-3 victory in Round 10.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Games: 17
Brisbane Roar win: 4
Melbourne City win: 10
Draws: 3
KEY STATS – Brought to you by Opta
- Melbourne City FC have won five of their last eight A-League Women games against Brisbane Roar FC (D1 L2) including their last two in a row by a combined score of 8-3; in fact, they won 2-0 in their last meeting at Perry Park (February 2018).
- Brisbane Roar FC have lost their last three straight games in the A-League Women including a 1-2 loss to Melbourne Victory in their last game at Perry Park; the last time they lost more successive games in the competition was a four-game stretch from April to December in 2021.
- No team has made fewer errors leading to a shot conceded this A-League Women season than either Brisbane Roar FC (3) or Melbourne City FC (3) (also Sydney FC – 3).
- Mia Corbin (Brisbane Roar FC) has contested 55 aerial duels this A-League Women season, more than any other player in the competition; she’s won 20 of those contests.
- Emina Ekic (Melbourne City FC) has scored four goals and made one assist in her last two games against Brisbane Roar FC in the A-League Women but has scored just one goal in her last six games in the competition overall.
BRFC Liberty A-League Women Round 18 squad:
1.Keeley RICHARDS, 2. Rebecca KIRKUP, 3. Deborah-Anne DE LA HARPE, 4. Kijah STEPHENSON, 5. Jenna MCCORMICK, 6. Holly MCQUEEN, 7. Ayesha NORRIE (C) 8. Mariel HECHER, 9. Mia CORBIN, 11. Sharn FREIER, 12. Tamar LEVIN, 13. Tameka YALLOP, 14. Sarah O’DONOGHUE, 17. Leah SCARPELLI, 18. Teagan THOMPSON, 19. Hollie PALMER, 20. Bonnie DAVIES, 21. Isabella SHUTTLEWORTH, 23. Ashlee BRODIGAN, 29. Jordan SILKOWITZ (GK), 32. Alicia WOODS
INS: 17. Leah SCARPELLI
OUTS: N/A
UNAVAILABLE: 10. Grace KUILAMU 15. Hannah HOLGERSEN 16. Chelsea BLISSETT, 22. Ruby CUTHBERT
MATCH DETAILS
Liberty A-League Women 2023/24 – Round 18: Brisbane Roar v Melbourne City
Perry Park, Bowen Hills
Saturday, 2 March (5:00pm KO)
TICKETS
