Brisbane Roar are back at Perry Park to kick off their first game of the year in front of a home crowd in a Round 11 clash against Wellington Phoenix.
WHAT WAS SAID
Head Coach Alex Smith has a clear direction in mind and hopes to communicate that across to his players by securing three points at home this Sunday after a loss against Melbourne City last week.
“I said to the girls, it was there for you, you just had to reach out and grab it. They’re getting used to the style and the demanding nature of it. They’ve got to get used to expecting to win games,” Smith said.
“In the first five minutes we could’ve had three or four goals, and for the game, we created six chances. From that point of view, I was pleased,” he added.
“It’s just about putting together a full performance for 90 minutes and coming away with the three points.”
“[Wellington] are a tidy football team, they’ve got some good players. I’m not expecting anything different from them.”
LAST TIME WE MET
The last time Roar faced Wellington Phoenix was in Round 3 at Sky Stadium where they suffered their first loss of the season in a narrow 2-1 defeat.
This match saw American striker Mia Corbin score her first Liberty A-League goal in the 94th minute to avoid giving Phoenix the clean sheet.
This Sunday, it will be Roar hosting the third-placed visitors in what is sure to be a thrilling affair.
TEAM NEWS
After making her comeback last week from an ACL injury, Mariel Hecher remains in the 20-player squad and will look for more minutes against Wellington Phoenix this Sunday.
New scholarship signing Alicia Woods, Isabella Shuttleworth and Tamar Levin come into the squad for Keeley Richards, Ashlee Brodigan, and Hannah Holgersen.
Richards and Holgersen are unavailable, while Ashlee Brodigan has sustained a knee injury and is diligently performing her rehabilitation to be back playing within a matter of weeks.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Games: 4
Brisbane Roar win: 1
Wellington Phoenix win: 1
Draws: 2
KEY STATS: Brought to you by Opta.
- The Wellington Phoenix won 2-1 in their most recent A-League Women game against Brisbane Roar FC after having not won any of their three previous meetings in the competition (D2 L1); though, neither team has kept a clean sheet in the history of this fixture.
- Brisbane Roar FC have lost only one of their last six A-League Women games at Perry Park (W2 D3), restricting their opposition to one goal or fewer in each of those six fixtures.
- Brisbane Roar FC have scored four goals after forcing a high turnover this A-League Women season, the most of any team in the competition and three more than the Wellington Phoenix despite the Roar (122) forcing fewer high turnovers in total than the Phoenix (128).
- The Wellington Phoenix have scored seven goals from set pieces in the 2023/24 A-League Women season, the joint-most of any team in the competition, while no team has conceded more set piece goals this campaign than Brisbane Roar FC (6).
- Brisbane Roar FC’s Mia Corbin (25) and the Wellington Phoenix’s Kate Taylor (22) have contested the joint-most and third-most aerial duels respectively of any players in the 2023/24 A-League Women season.
Brisbane Roar squad: 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, 22. Ruby CUTHBERT, 29. Jordan SILKOWITZ, (GK) 32. Alicia WOODS
Ins: 21. Isabella SHUTTLEWORTH, 32. Alicia WOODS
Outs: 1. Keeley RICHARDS, 15. Hannah HOLGERSEN, 23. Ashlee BRODIGAN
Unavailable: 10. Grace KUILAMU, 16. Chelsea BLISSETT
Wellington Phoenix squad (four to be omitted): 1. Rylee FOSTER (gk), 2. Zoe MCMEEKEN, 3. Kate TAYLOR, 4. Mackenzie BARRY, 6. Macey FRASER, 7. Isabel COX, 9. Kelli BROWN, 10. Alyssa WHINHAM, 11. Hope BRESLIN, 12. Brianna EDWARDS (gk), 13. Michaela FOSTER, 14. Michaela ROBERTSON, 15. Daisy BRAZENDALE, 16. Annalie LONGO (c), 17. Mariana SPECKMAIER, 18. Hailey DAVIDSON, 20. Emma MAIN, 21. Manaia ELLIOTT, 23. Rebecca LAKE, 26. Tiana JABER
Ins: 1. Rylee FOSTER (gk) (returning from injury)
Outs: 22. Aimee DANIELI (gk) (omitted)
Unavailable: 5. Marisa VAN DER MEER (injured), 8. Grace WISNEWSKI (injured), 19. Liv INGHAM (injured)
Grab your tickets for Sunday’s match HERE
MATCH DETAILS
Liberty A-League Women 2023/24 – Round 11: Brisbane Roar vs Wellington Phoenix
Perry Park, Brisbane
Sunday, 7 January
