Adelaide United 1–2 Brisbane Roar (16/03/24)
By Ben Carey
Above: Leah Scarpelli embraces Roar teammate, Deborah-Anne De la Harpe, after she scored the opening goal. Photo: A-Leagues.
Brisbane Roar secured a scrappy 2-1 win over home side Adelaide United, thanks to a contentious offside goal from Tameka Yallop. The last time these two sides met, back in November, it was a tight 1-1 draw at Suncorp Stadium. The context of this game was wildly different though. It was a must win game for both sides, who needed all three points to keep their chances of qualifying for the end of season finals alive.
The first half was incredibly scrappy, both sides unable to keep hold of the ball. Brisbane was the first to capitalise on a meaningful spell of possession. Tameka Yallop played a nice ball in the midfield for Deborah-Anne De La Harpe, who made a spirited run all the way up to the box, charged at the keeper and hit a low hard shot across the goals and into the side netting to put the Roar up 1-0. It was De La Harpe’s second ever goal in the A-League Women’s competition, the first coming for Perth Glory a few years ago.
Brisbane continued to have the better of the chances during this period of play. A high press from the Roar in the 20th minute, led to a flurry of chances and a mad scramble in the Adelaide box. One shot just wide by Mia Corbin, and another from Yallop parried off the line by Adelaide keeper, Claudia Jenkins.
Soon after this missed opportunity, there was a momentum shift. A few minutes before the half hour mark, an exceptionally weighted through ball from Dylan Holmes in the Adelaide midfield found the feet of Chelsie Dawber in the front line. She ran towards the Brisbane keeper, Keeley Richards, who was unable to shut the attack down and Dawber levelled the match.
Both teams were a little more composed in the second half, able to maintain a little more possession and use it to build attacks. It was Brisbane with the better of the chances. Just after the hour mark, Kijah Stephenson made a great run to the edge of the Adelaide box and hit and immaculate cross to Sharn Freier, whose shot was saved by the keeper point blank, much to the joy of the home fans.
About ten minutes later, a good, searching ball from Corbin found a seemingly offside Yallop, who didn’t see the flag go up so she ran at goals, beat the keeper and tucked it home to put Brisbane ahead once more. Adelaide players and coaching staff alike protested the contentious goal, but their protests were futile, and the goal stood.
In the last 20 or so minutes of the match the Roar continued to play attacking football, hunting for that tantalising insurance goal, but despite some very promising build up play, no such goal materialised, but they did close out the match with a win.
Although it was a less than convincing win, the Roar will take what they can get. A stroke of good luck (or a bad call depending on how you see it) seems fitting for a team who have had a lot of bad luck go against them this season. Thanks to the win, Brisbane remain in the running for the coveted last finals qualifying spot, provided they keep winning and results go their way. Adelaide, however, have now sadly been eliminated.
Adelaide United will play Wellington Phoenix away midweek. While Brisbane Roar will face Perth Glory at home next Sunday.
Teams: ADELAIDE UNITED (4-5-1): Jenkins, I. Hodgson, Tonkin, Waldus, E. Hodgson, Holtz, Holmes, Sasaki, Dawber, Mullan, Blake. Substitutes: Grove, Jancevski, Condon, Holtz, Dewey, Grigg.
Scorers: Dawber 26’.
BRISBANE ROAR (3-4-2-1): Richards, Scarpelli, McCormick, McQueen, Woods, Brodigan, Norrie, De la Harpe, Freier,Yallop, Corbin. Substitutes: Shuttleworth, Kirkup, Hecher, Palmer, Stephenson.
Scorers: De la Harpe 9’, Yallop 74’.
Referee: Rebecca Durcau.
Attendance: 742.
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