Brisbane Roar’s memorable Westfield W-League campaign came to a tough conclusion in a 6-2 loss to Melbourne Victory in a rollercoaster Semi Final at a wet Lions Stadium on Sunday.
Olivia Chance’s spectacular long-range strike before half-time and a poacher’s finish from captain Tameka Yallop in the second stanza proved to be mere consolations as the clinical visitors seized their opportunities.
Yallop would have been on the scoresheet earlier had her fine effort been adjudged to have crossed the line after crashing against the crossbar, the first of several tight decisions that ran against the luckless Roar.
“It is a tough one to take,” midfielder Chance said after the match. “We created opportunities and obviously I’ll have to have a look back at the calls that the ref made and see if I can see her points of view.
“I think some of their goals were preventable but it was a great game for a neutral to watch. Fair play to them and good luck to them in the Grand Final.”
When asked about her special goal, the New Zealand international gave an insight into how it came about.
“A couple of days ago at training I hit the same shot but it hit the crossbar,” she said. “I saw the opportunity, saw the keeper off the line and thought let’s have a dig at it. It sat nicely, and as soon as it hit my foot I thought, oh, that might go top corner.
“I’m always happy when I score but it’s always harder when you lose and the second one I thought it might creep in but I’m happy [Yallop] was there to finish it off. But when we got the second we had the opportunity [to continue the momentum]. We had the ball in the back of the net two other times.”
“Yeah, hard one to take but it was a nice strike and I want to do it more often.”
GOALS
Melbourne Victory – De Vanna 22’ – 0-1
After a turnover in the Roar defence, Ayres slides a pass wide to De Vanna who takes a touch and hammers it home at the near post.
Brisbane Roar – Chance 43’ – 1-1
Jamilla Rankin plays the ball to Chance standing in plenty of space well outside the box. She rockets home an unbelievable top-corner strike.
Melbourne Victory – Zimmerman 45’ 1-2
Brisbane fail to clear a long ball. It eventually falls to Catherine Zimmerman who fires home in off the far post.
Melbourne Victory – Ayres 47’ – 1-3
De Vanna surges down the left. Georgina Worth saves the attacker’ initial attempt but it falls to the feet of Ayres who can’t miss the open goal.
Melbourne Victory – De Vanna 61’ – 1-4
De Vanna picks a Roar defender’s pocket, heads into the box then produces another trademark thumping finish.
Brisbane Roar – Yallop 74’ – 2-4
Chance tries a cheeky chip from outside of the area, which the keeper can only palm onto the bar. It falls to Yallop who budles home at point-blank range.
Melbourne Victory – Ayres 87’ – 2-5
Polly Doran fires in a low speculator which Worth blocks. Ayres makes no mistake with the rebound.
Melbourne Victory – Ayres 90+6’ – 2-6
With the game just about over, Amy Jackson sets up Ayres to complete her hat-trick with a clever curling finish.
