In front of 3,849 fans at Spencer Park, the Roar secured an action-packed 2-1 triumph over the Wellington Phoenix in the first leg of the Ninja A-League Women’s semi-final on Sunday evening.
The Phoenix drew first blood just minutes in when Grace Jale rose highest to nod home a corner at the back post. The New Zealand side continued to threaten, and moments later Makala Woods broke clear on goal, but her strike ricocheted off the post.
The Roar were further tested when 19-year-old Roar centre-back Ruby Cuthbert limped off with a leg injury. Dutch star Bente Jansen came on in her place, prompting a tactical reshuffle in the defensive line.
Momo magic brought the Spencer Park’s Roar faithful to their feet just ten minutes later. Roar’s Japanese captain Momo Hayashi flung herself at an inviting Tish Woods corner and powered a header into the net, restoring parity at 1-1.
The Roar’s next clear opportunity came midway through the half when Bente Jansen lifted a cross to Ashlyn Miller on the right side of the box. Miller met it with an acrobatic volley, only for Phoenix goalkeeper Victoria Esson to dive heroically to push it away.
Neither side could find another way through in a fiercely fought first half, and the teams were sent into the sheds locked at 1-1.
The Roar burst out of the blocks after the break, pinning the Phoenix in their own half in the opening stages. Kijah Stephenson roamed across the midfield and threaded a perfectly weighted ball through to Jansen, who closed in on goal, only for an onrushing Esson to smother the effort.
Veteran Tameka Yallop was next to try her luck, curling an effort towards the top left corner, but she couldn’t catch Esson in goal. The Roar continued to pepper the Phoenix goal with chances, but Esson was equal to everything thrown at her, producing save after brilliant save to keep the deadlock intact.
The Roar’s relentless pressure finally told just past the 70th minute. Miller’s cross picked out Daisy Brown, who took it beautifully on her chest and buried her shot into the net, sending Spencer Park into raptures.
The closing stages were played at a relentless pace until the final whistle rang out across Spencer Park and sealed a thrilling 2-1 victory for the Roar in the semi-final first leg.
The Roar are now just one match away from the final and will look to secure their place when they travel to Wellington to face the Phoenix in the second leg next Sunday at 12.30pm AEST.
The winner of the two-legged tie is guaranteed a Melbourne opponent, as Victory and City meet in the other semi-final clash.
