Brisbane Roar will look to secure their fourth consecutive win as they travel across the ditch to face Wellington Phoenix at Porirua Park in Round 5 of the 2024/25 Ninja A-League.
A-Leagues action is back after last week’s international break, and Roar will come up against an 11th placed Phoenix side away from home.
Roar have secured three wins on the bounce after two home games and their 4-0 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers in Unite Round and will look to continue this winning form on Sunday.
WHAT WAS SAID
Head Coach, Alex Smith looks forward to the trip across the ditch and highlighted that if his side stick to the playing style that has led to their winning streak, they will be able to continue this form.
“They’re a little bit of a different team to what we’ve faced,” Smith said.
“They try and play a bit so we’ll have to do a couple things different. For us, it’s about maintaining our preparation, keeping focus and keeping that tenacity and sticking to our style.”
“It comes down to focusing on intent and the way we want to play and if we do that, I’m confident we can go there and come back with three points.”
Emily Pringle is determined for a fourth consecutive win after scoring her first goal for Brisbane Roar in Unite Round.
“Really proud of the way we’re playing and how it’s going and what Alex is coaching us to do. It’s been really fun to watch the talent on the team get better every game,” Pringle said.
“We’re expecting a good match-up, competitive like every game but we’re excited and ready for it.”
LAST TIME WE MET
Brisbane last faced the Phoenix at Perry Park earlier this year where they secured a 2-1 win with goals from Tameka Yallop & Kijah Stephenson on home soil.
Phoenix were the ones to open the scoring with Michaela Foster crossing the ball in for Isabel Cox to snatch the lead.
After a spell of sloppy Phoenix defence, Tameka Yallop capitalised on the opportunity and struck a ball in from outside the box to equalise 1-1.
In the 46th minute, Sharn Freier made a great run and crossed the ball in to Kijah Stephenson who put it away to seal the 2-1 victory over the visitors.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Games: 5
Wins: 2
Loss – 1
Draw – 2
TEAM NEWS
For Roar’s Ninja A-League Women, Laini Freier is in contention to make her Ninja A-League Women’s debut after being named in the 18-player squad for Sunday’s clash against Wellington Phoenix.
Freier missed out on the first four games of the season due to a leg injury however after completing recovery and returning to the pitch, she is in the mix for her first A-League minutes.
Ruby Cuthbert, who made five appearances with Roar in her inaugural season at the club is named in the matchday squad for the first time this season after missing the opening month of the new campaign with injury.
Brisbane Roar Ninja A-League Squad: 1. Keeley RICHARDS, 2. Leia VARLEY, 3. Deborah-Anne DE LA HARPE 6. Holly MCQUEEN, 7. Momo HAYASHI, 8. Mariel HECHER, 10. Grace KUILAMU, 12. Tamar LEVIN, 14. Zara KRUGER, 16. Chelsea BLISSETT, 17. Evdokia POPADINOVA, 18. Emily PRINGLE, 19. Laini FREIER, 20. Tanaye MORRIS, 22. Ruby CUTHBERT, 23. Isabela HOYOS, 32. Alicia WOODS, 33. Olivia SEKANY
INS: 19. Laini FREIER, 22. Ruby CUTHBERT
OUTS: 11. Sharn FREIER, 13. Tameka YALLOP
UNAVAILABLE: 4. Kijah STEPHENSON (ACL), 9. Danelle TAN (knee), 22. Ruby CUTHBERT (leg)
MATCH DETAILS
Ninja A-League Women 2024/25 – Round 5: Wellington Phoenix vs Brisbane Roar
Porirua Park, Wellington
Sunday, 8 December (1:00pm KO AEST)
