Brisbane Roar will look for another win at home this Saturday as their pursuit of a finals spot continues when they take on Central Coast Mariners at Ballymore Stadium in Round 19 of the Liberty A-League.
After a golden three points over second-placed Melbourne City, Roar will be full of confidence heading into another home fixture for a chance to secure another three points.
WHAT WAS SAID
Head Coach Alex Smith looks forward to having three of the four remaining matches at home for a good opportunity to secure crucial points to break into the top six and be in the running for finals.
“There’s been a lot of games this year where we’ve probably been the better team and just been unlucky. To get some reward for all our hard work during the international break was really pleasing and have a bit of the luck go our way was really pleasing,” he said.
“We had quite a few away trips in the middle block of the season. For us to finish four or five at home is a fantastic opportunity to rack up some points and make a late charge and hopefully get into the six and from there you never know what’s going to happen.”
LAST TIME WE MET
Roar last faced Central Coast in Round 4 of the Liberty A-League that saw Roar snatch a share of the spoils in a 1-1 stalemate.
Rola Badawiya open the scoring in the 26th minute with a header from a corner ball.
Ayesha Norrie scored a rocket just a minute later, after getting her foot to the ball from just inside the 18-yard-box.
In the 30th minute, Central Coast were awarded a penalty after Jenna McCormick fouled Wurigumula in the box, but Jordan Silkowitz made a diving save to deny the hosts.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Games: 5
Brisbane win: 4
Central Coast win: 0
Draws: 1
KEY STATS – Brought to you by Opta
- Brisbane Roar FC are undefeated in all their five A-League Women matches against Central Coast Mariners (W4 D1); the Roar have conceded only a single goal across that span.
- Central Coast Mariners have won five of their last six A-League Women matches away from Industree Group Stadium (L1); the Mariners have scored at least two goals in each of their five wins in that span.
- Jordan Silkowitz (Brisbane Roar FC) has made 138 successful long passes this A-League Women season, the joint-most of any player in the competition (also Isobel Nino – 138 for Newcastle Jets).
- Isabel Gomez (Central Coast Mariners) has made 49 successful tackles in the 2023/24 A-League Women season, the most of any player in the competition.
- Central Coast Mariners’ goalkeepers Courtney Newbon (85%) and Sarah Langman (80.7%) have the best and third best save percentage of any goalkeepers (min. 2 matches) in the 2023/24 A-League Women season (Morgan Aquino – 82.7% for Perth Glory).
Round 19 Liberty A-League 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, 23. Ashlee BRODIGAN, 29. Jordan SILKOWITZ (GK), 32. Alicia WOODS
INS: N/A
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 19: Brisbane Roar v Central Coast Mariners
Ballymore, Herston
Saturday, 09 March (3:00pm KO)
Gates open at 2:00pm
