Brisbane Roar 2-1 Central Coast Mariners
by Jonathon Hagger (15/12/24)
Above: Sharn (left) and Laini Freier, who were on the field together for the same time for Brisbane Roar today. Photo: Brisbane Roar.
The highly anticipated match between the classy Brisbane Roar and their opponents the undefeated Central Coast Mariners delivered an impressive encounter. Following a 24-hour delay due to atrocious weather conditions, both teams came into the match well-rested and ready to go.
With the match being played on a rather damp pitch, much of the play in the opening minutes saw each team patiently assessing both the conditions and their opponents. Brisbane had a greater level of possession which they turned into an incredible opportunity to score in the ninth minute through a breakaway run by Sharn Frier that deflected off a Mariners defender in the six-yard area and came agonisingly close to crossing the goal line.
Less than 60 seconds later, Hayashi launched a sneaky speculator shot on goal that hit the Mariners’ goal crossbar but didn’t go in.
Patience and possession aptly describe Brisbane’s approach to the match with repeated waves of attack. Frier’s pace and balance on the ball opened up a scoring opportunity in the 18th minute however the strong defensive work of Jessika Nash, managed to diffuse the danger.
Frier continued to assert herself with a lovely layoff in the centre of the pitch to Kuilamu in the 26th minute who took a shot however the Mariners keeper was well positioned to make an easy save.
Central Coast weren’t letting Brisbane have all the ball though and from the 35th minute onwards camped themselves in the Roar’s half. Brisbane appeared to change their game plan and seemed happy to absorb the pressure being applied.
The most contentious issue in the first half came about in the 38th minute as Mariners attacker Pennock was clattered into by defender Varley inside the penalty area. Referee Mossin decided there wasn’t enough contact in the play to warrant a penalty.
The remainder of the first half played out with the Mariners dominating possession and Brisbane mostly soaking up the pressure being applied.
The second half started in the same way that the first finished, with both teams settling into a see-saw pattern of possession. It took until the 52nd minute for the Mariners to threaten the Brisbane goal on the back of Trimis beating her marker on the wing and a well-weighted cross that eventually found Martin in the six-yard area. The home defence once again stood strong and the score remained unchanged.
The script was flipped in the 56th minute when Martin was dropped to the pitch attempting to advance the ball away from her goal area. Having lost possession the nearby Brisbane players swooped on the ball with Deborah-Ann de la Harpe scoring an exceptional goal on a tight angle off her right foot that swept past the outstretched arms of the keeper and found the net.
Just 90 seconds later, the visitors handed possession back to Brisbane just outside the goal area, and a clean through ball from Freier to the centre of the six-yard was, thankfully for the Mariners, unable to find an orange shirt, and went out for an attacking corner.
The opening goal of the match had a massive impact on the approach each team took from that point on. The Mariners appeared to become hesitant, whereas Brisbane increased the pressure. Freier took control of play keeping the Mariners defenders guessing. An excellent attacking corner in the 65th minute gave Brisbane multiple opportunities to score as the ball bounced around between players however it wasn’t to be with the keeper Langman eventually tidying up.
The Mariners found themselves with a great chance to score in the 67th minute following a free kick awarded after Trimis was fouled just inside the right-hand touch line. A curling kick from Martin was well on target but was headed over the net.
In the 75th minute, the game was blown open as Fuller pounced on a loose ball that Brisbane defender Pringle let slip at the top of her goal area. A well-placed shot went to the wrong side of the Brisbane keeper and into the back of the net.
However, Brisbane were not yet done and after repeated attacks on the Mariners’ goal, one finally came to fruition in the 79th minute from a miracle header from Yallop that went in. It was a goal that seemed to defy the laws of physics.
While the Mariners battled away and attempted to equalise, Brisbane’s defence stood fast. A late Mariners corner in the 89th minute was unable to find an attacking player and the opportunity to score was lost.
The final six minutes of play in stoppage time provided chances for each team to score, but Brisbane ran victors to hand the Mariners their first loss of the season.
Teams: BRISBANE ROAR (3-2-4-1): Sekany, de la Harpe, Varley, Blissett, Woods, Hiyashi, S. Freier, Yallop, Levin, Kuilamu. Substitutes: Richards, Hecher (70’), Kruger, Pringle (55’), L.Frier (71’).
Scorers: de la Harpe 56’, Yallop 79’.
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS (3-4-1-2): Langman, Riley, Irwin, Nash, Martin, Pennock, Faloc, Ray, Rasmussen, Nunn, Trimis. Substitutes: Carmichael, Fuller (67’), Quilligan (93’), Puxty (85’), Evans (67’).
Scorer: Fuller 75’.
Referee: Isabella Mossin.
Attendance: 751.
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