Melbourne City 2–3 Brisbane Roar
By Ben Gilby.
A brilliant strike by Mariel Hecher earned Brisbane Roar their second straight win after starting the season with four consecutive draws. The Brazilian’s effort settled a see-saw encounter at AAMI Park and came just three minutes after the hosts levelled from being 2-0 down.
The first opportunity of the game fell to Melbourne City with Matildas defender Jenna McCormick battling her way into the box before appearing to be tugged to the ground by fellow international Emily Gielnik, but referee Casey Reibelt waved away the Sky Blues’ penalty claims.
As the game entered its second quarter, the Queenslanders became increasingly dominant but a series of great saves from Teagan Micah in the City goal meant that they did not quite get the scoreboard lead that their pressure deserved. A familiar story for the Roar this season.
A golden chance was created when Tameka Yallop played in Gielnik, but Micah did well to save.
They did take the lead on the twenty-third minute when a corner was met by a thumping header by Clare Polkinghorne from the left of the box. The Matildas star didn’t need to jump to make contact and scored despite having City defenders McCormick and Rhali Dobson tight to her.
Six minutes later, Brisbane doubled their lead when Yallop got through and hit a shot which came off the hand of City’s Samantha Johnson and Casey Reibelt had no choice but to point to the spot. Up stepped Gielnik to confidently smash her penalty into the right hand of the net, sending Micah the wrong way.
Micah had better luck against Gielnik shortly after when the City stopper made a great save from the Brisbane star’s curling effort which was heading for the top corner. Gielnik also smashed a shot against the bar before the break.
It was not all Brisbane in the opening stanza as Georgina Worth had to stand tall to deny Chinatsu Kira on several occasions. Dobson also hit an effort against the bar as City looked to hit back.
Within seconds of the second half opening, City got a foothold in the game at last when a poor goal kick by Georgina Worth went straight to the home side’s Kira. The Japanese star slid an instant pass to Alex Chidiac. The midfielder’s effort deflected off Clare Polkinghorne’s shoulder and into the far corner of the net.
This spurred City on to greater efforts. Chinatsu Kira was denied once more by Worth after being played in by Tori Tumeth.
With just over a quarter of an hour left, Melbourne City finally levelled. Olivia Chance fouled Alex Chidiac and a penalty was awarded. Up stepped Samantha Johnson who slotted it into the left hand corner with Worth diving the wrong way.
Kira had another effort saved by Worth in the aftermath. To City’s chagrin, the rebound came out to Tyla-Jay Vlajnic but her shot was disappointingly far too high.
The home side’s efforts were all for naught as within minutes they were behind again. Mariel Hecher was found on the right and she drove in a superb cross shot in off the far post.
This will be a frustrating loss for Melbourne City – they had the momentum and the chances in the second half to earn a statement win against unbeaten opponents.
Brisbane Roar may have played more games than everyone else, but with no losses in six games, it will take something to stop them being a major player in the Finals now.
Teams: MELBOURNE CITY: Micah, Checker, Vlajnic, Eckhoff, Dobson, Davidson, Chidiac, Palmer, Kira. Substitutes: Barbieri (GK), Allen, Tumeth, Cain, Withers.
Scorers: Chidiac 46, Johnson (pen) 73.
BRISBANE ROAR: Worth, Heatley, Rankin, Polkinghorne, Carroll, Chance, Freier, Dalton, Hecher, Gielnik, Yallop. Substitutes: Aquino (GK), Torpey, Margraf, McKenna.
Scorers: Polkinghorne 23, Gielnik 31, Hecher 75.
Referee: Casey Reibelt.
Attendance: 1,975.
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