Following a record home crowd at Spencer Park that spurred the Brisbane Roar Westfeld W-League side to victory in round one, the team will travel to Western Australia to take on Perth Glory on Saturday, November 12 (Kick-off 6pm QLD Time).
Brisbane Roar W-League Head Coach Mel Andreatta is looking forward to building on the momentum from last weekend’s home game.
“The players are really excited on the back of the support we had at the game on Saturday,” she said.
“They [Perth Glory] have a history of having a really positive aggressive way of playing and like to go forward quickly that was shown again in their round one fixture.”
Roar was not the only team to achieve a record in round one. Perth Glory’s Caitlin Doeglas scored in the opening 14 seconds of their match against Western Sydney Wanderers.
Matilda & Glory striker Samantha Kerr is also a force to be reckoned with after she scored two goals in the Glory’s 4-2 win in round one.
Roar’s young gun Angela Beard (above) put in a strong performance in defence against Sydney FC with Brisbane’s defensive unit looking to do a similar job on Kerr.
“It’s all about us and how we play, how we control the game, the tempo,” Beard said.
“She is a very talented footballer and as a group, we will work together to lock down players like Sam Kerr.
“I think that individually she can change the game when she wants too and I think we will have to keep that in mind but obviously we are just going to play our game.”
The Roar will be bolstered by the return of midfielder Tameka Butt, who returns from playing in Sweden.
Butt’s timely return to Brisbane will give the Roar’s midfield a boost of speed and power heading into the top of the table clash in West Australia.
While Perth Glory started the season with a positive result, Andreatta is focused on her team and what they can bring to the game this Saturday.
“Our structures are fundamental to how we approach our opponent but you have to consider the opponent and what their strengths are and also what their weaknesses are,” she said.
“As a result of those considerations we alter certain things that we do to really take advantage of the things that we consider are opportunities against our opponent.”
It will be the Roar’s only game against Perth Glory this season before they return home to face Canberra United at A.J. Kelly Field, Kippa-Ring on Sunday, 20 November (4pm KO Qld time).
For the full list of Westfield W-League 2016/17 fixtures click HERE.
Perth Glory v Brisbane Roar FC – Saturday, 12 November 2016
Venue: Dorrien Gardens
Kick-Off: 4:00PM (6:00PM QLD Time)
Perth Glory squad: 1.Melissa MAIZELS (gk), 2.Sarah CARROLL, 3.Kim CARROLL, 4.Alyssa MAUTZ, 5.Patricia CHARALAMBOUS, 6.Carla BENNETT, 7.Nicole STANTON, 8.Shawn BILLAM, 9.Rosie SUTTON, 10.Vanessa DIBERNARDO, 14.Caitlin DOEGLAS, 17.Natasha RIGBY, 18.Gabby DAL BUSCO (gk), 20.Samantha KERR (c), 22.Arianna ROMERO
Brisbane Roar FC squad: 1.Mackenzie ARNOLD (gk), 2.Nina FRAUSING-PEDERSEN, 3.Amy CHAPMAN, 4.Clare POLKINGHORNE (c), 6.Angela BEARD, 7.Sunny FRANCO, 8.Kaitlyn TORPEY, 10.Katrina GORRY, 11.Maili FORBES, 12.Allira TOBY, 13.Tameka BUTT, 14.Summer O’BRIEN, 15.Abbey LLOYD, 17.Emily GIELNIK, 18.Maddy EVANS, 19.Natalie TATHEM, 20.Georgina WORTH (gk) **one to be omitted**
Referee: Lara Lee Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Southern Assistant Referee 2: Shane Skinner Fourth Official: Tom Dowle