Brisbane Roar produced a stunning late surge against the reigning champions Melbourne Victory to secure a thrilling 4-2 triumph and well-earned first win of the Liberty A-League season on Sunday.
Three goals after the 85th minute completed the comeback for a rampant Roar, who came back into the contest when Larissa Crummer halved a two-goal deficit just prior to the hour.
A straight red card for Kyra Cooney-Cross further swung the momentum and Garrath McPherson’s side took full advantage, turning the game on its head through Katrina Gorry, Shea Connors and captain Ayesha Norrie.
The brilliant AAMI Park fightback means Brisbane now have four points on the board from five games.
It was made all the sweeter for marking Natalie Tathem’s return from an ACL injury, while homegrown pair Mia Bailey and Lanni McDougall made successful debuts.
The team will now look to make it two wins from two in this Sunday’s home match against Western Sydney Wanderers, part of a women’s and men’s double-header at Moreton Daily Stadium.
GOALS
Melbourne Victory | Jessie Rasschaert OG (5′)
1-0 – Jessie Rasschaert’s misdirected back-pass ends up in the Roar’s net.
Melbourne Victory | Lynn Williams (26′)
2-0 – An inswinging corner bobbles around the box before the officials deem the ball to have crossed the line.
Brisbane Roar | Larissa Crummer (59′)
2-1 – Melissa Maizels fails to hold Gorry’s first-time shot and Crummer is first on the scene to turn home her second goal in three games.
Brisbane Roar | Katrina Gorry (86′)
2-2 – Gorry takes the pass from Mariel Hecher, steadies herself, and then unleashes a sweet, dipping strike over Maizels and beneath the underside of the crossbar.
Brisbane Roar | Shea Connors (90′)
2-3 – Norrie’s ball forward breaks in the box for Tathem, who delivers a pinpoint low pass from the byline for Connors to convert.
Brisbane Roar | Ayesha Norrie (90’+6)
2-4 – Norrie makes the points safe by ending the move she started with an emphatic finish in the box.
MATCH DETAILS
Liberty A-League Round 5
Melbourne Victory v Brisbane Roar
Sunday, 2 January 2021
AAMI Park
Melbourne Victory 2 (Rasschaert OG 5′ Williams 26′)
Brisbane Roar 4 (Crummer 59′ Gorry 86′ Connors 90′ Norrie 90’+6)
NEXT GAME
Liberty A-League Round 6
Brisbane Roar v Western Sydney Wanderers
Sunday, 9 January 2021
Moreton Daily Stadium
KO: 3:05pm
