Brisbane Roar are looking for another win on the road when they face Western United away at Ironbark Fields in Round 8 of the Ninja A-League this Sunday night.
Roar secured an astounding 6-1 victory over Newcastle Jets last week and will be looking to continue this winning form at Ironbark Fields.
Fourth-placed Western United won both match-ups last season, therefore a second-placed Roar will be hoping to assert dominance to move to the top of the ladder.
WHAT WAS SAID
With four games in the upcoming two weeks, Head Coach Alex Smith is sticking to his processes to get all possible points from these fixtures, starting with Western United away.
“Western United away is always a tough trip, all the way out at Ironbark,” Smith said.
“It’s going to be another tough test for us. We’ve got four games in two weeks now so it’s a really pivotal stretch for us in the season,” he added.
After making her debut against Western United last year, Alicia Woods is determined to break Roar’s winless streak against them and secure three points on the road this Sunday.
“The way we’ve been playing under Alex and the football we’re trying to play and thee tactics that we’ve got are really working out for us. For me especially, getting on the ball a lot more and loving playing,” Woods said.
“Always a tough side to face, Western. I debuted against them last year so it’s always a fun game for me. Really excited to play them. If we come with the same intensity as last week, we’ll have no problems.”
WHEN WE LAST MET
In their last meeting, Brisbane suffered a 3-2 defeat to United away after a late penalty stripped Roar of a share of the spoils.
Western United’s Chloe Logarzo opened the scoring before Kijah Stephenson put Brisbane on the board with the equaliser.
Sharn Freier secured her second assist of the match by setting up Mia Corbin for Roar to take the lead.
Adriana Taranto equalised in the second half and after Tameka Yallop committed a foul in the box, Chloe Logarzo secured the three points for the hosts.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Games: 4
Brisbane wins: 1
Western wins: 3
Draws: 0
TEAM NEWS
Roar’s A-League Women are boosted by the return of Captain, Tameka Yallop who missed her sides 6-1 win over Newcastle last weekend with a knock.
Mariel Hecher returns to the extended squad after missing last week with concussion.
After a hattrick in her first start for the club, Laini Freier will be determined for more minutes in orange alongside her sister, Sharn.
SQUAD
Brisbane Roar Ninja A-League Squad: 1. Keeley RICHARDS, 2. Leia VARLEY, 3. Deborah-Anne DE LA HARPE 6. Holly MCQUEEN, 7. Momo HAYASHI, 10. Grace KUILAMU, 11. Sharn FREIER, 12. Tamar LEVIN, 13. Tameka YALLOP, 14. Zara KRUGER, 16. Chelsea BLISSETT, 18. Emily PRINGLE, 19. Laini FREIER, 20. Tanaye MORRIS, 22. Ruby CUTHBERT, 23. Isabela HOYOS, 32. Alicia WOODS, 33. Olivia SEKANY
INS: 8. Mariel HECHER
OUTS: 22. Ruby CUTHBERT
UNAVAILABLE: 4. Kijah STEPHENSON (ACL), 9. Danelle TAN (knee), 17. Evdokia POPADINOVA (hamstring)
MATCH DETAILS
Ninja A-League 2024/25 – Round 8: Western United v Brisbane Roar
Ironbark Fields, Tarneit
Sunday, 29 December (6:45pm AEST KO)
