Brisbane Roar survived a strong challenge from Western Sydney Wanderers to claim a 2-1 win and move into second place in the Westfield W-League.
Brisbane Roar survived a strong challenge from Western Sydney Wanderers to claim a 2-1 win at Campbelltown Stadium and move into second place in the Westfield W-League, two points off leaders Perth Glory.
Momentary lapses in defence cost the Wanderers dearly as the home side fell two goals in arrears by the midway point of the first half.
Despite renewed drive and focus from that point – and a stylish goal from Louise Fors – the deficit proved out of reach for the Wanderers, with the club suffering the first home loss of its young life.
The two teams served up end-to-end entertainment for the supporters on hand despite the warm conditions in Sydney-s south-west.
Wanderers’ midfielder Servet Uzunlar skimmed a shot from distance past the post however it was the visitors who drew first blood.
Tameka Butt, looking back to her best after recent niggling injuries, shot narrowly over the crossbar before opening the scoring with a cool finish.
Butt swooped on a loose ball to easily slot home on 21 minutes.
Within six minutes Brisbane doubled their advantage as Emily Gielnik comfortably lobbed over exposed goalkeeper Thora Helgadottir after a pass from midfield.
The Wanderers picked up their intensity and Sarah Walsh spurned a wonderful opportunity before the break, doing well to get around the goalkeeper only to hit her effort against the post with an open goal going begging.
After the interval the Wanderers continued where they left off, and Walsh again twice came close to scoring within the space of a minute on the hour mark.
The home side finally got their reward midway through the second period as Swedish midfielder Fors hit a sumptuous free-kick over the wall and inside Kate Stewart’s near post.
Following several half chances, there was to be drama at either end during injury time.
Firstly, Catherine Cannuli had an opportunity to give her side a share of the spoils only to blast straight at Stewart, while the Wanderers somehow survived a goalmouth scramble, clearing the ball off the line amid some desperate defending.
Western Sydney Wanderers: 1 (Louise Fors 68′)
Brisbane Roar: 2 (Tameka Butt 21′, Emily Gielnik 27′)
Western Sydney Wanderers: 20. Thora HELGADOTTIR (gk), 2. Samantha SPACKMAN, 3. Alexandra HUYNH, 4. Alesha CLIFFORD, 5. Olivia KENNEDY (12. Jessica SEAMAN 87-), 8. Vanessa HART, 9. Sarah WALSH (c) (14. Trudy CAMILLERI 80′), 10. Servet UZUNLAR, 11. Louise FORS, 13. Catherine CANNULI, 15. Teigen ALLEN (16. Linda O-NEILL 72-)
Brisbane Roar: 18. Kate Stewart, 2. Laura Alleway (6. Ashley Spina 81-), 3. Amy Chapman, 4. Clare Polkinghorne (c), 5. Brooke Spence, 7. Erika Elze, 8. Elise Kellond-Knight, 11. Vedrana Popovic, 12. Tameka Butt, 17. Emily Gielnik (15. Hannah Beard 87′), 19. Katrina Gorry (10. Lana Harch 90′)
