Western United 2-8 Brisbane Roar
by Alyce Collett (29/12/24)
Above: Brisbane Roar mob Momo Hayashi after her latest wonder goal. Photo Brisbane Roar.
Brisbane Roar have won big for a second week in a row, this demolishing Western United to the tune of eight goals to two.
The Freier twins Laini and Sharn starred again, and were joined on the scoreboard by Leia Varley, Momo Hayashi and Tameka Yallop. Chloe Logarzo did score for United and the home side did benefit from an own goal, but with a defensive display as poor as United gave, it meant little in the end.
The win also equalled a club record for the Roar in terms of their greatest ever winning margin, while it also handed United their heaviest defeat in their history.
It was an interesting battle of strategies early, with both sides really aiming to play as wide as possible. This allowed the defending team to really pin their opponent on the side line and not give them much space, which in turn meant that neither side really had the momentum initially.
However, the Roar did eventually manage to find some space, and after a brilliant through ball from Laini that set up sister Sharn, the Matilda made no mistake and put it away cleanly in the back of the net to give the Roar the lead not even nine minutes in.
This seemed to give a shot in the arm to the Roar. They were a lot more certain on the ball than their hosts, and a strong defensive display from the visitors meant that any time United did get close to attacking, any threat was dissipated quickly.
The Roar had a second goal less than 10 minutes later, after Hayashi converted a free kick absolutely perfectly, getting such spin on the ball it completely bamboozled Chloe Lincoln in the Western United goal and she had no hope of stopping it.
Brisbane continued to grow and grow in confidence as the half continued, and less than later, they had a third on the board. This time it was Sharn Freier setting up a goal for twin Laini, after centring the ball to the middle of the box, for Laini pounced and shot truly to join her twin on the goal scorers list.
By this point the hosts were really on the back foot, and it left Kat Smith and her coaching staff with plenty to think about.
Kahli Johnson did come within inches of getting one back for the home side, but her shot went narrowly wide.
Only moments later though Western United did earn themselves a penalty after Emily Roach was brought down in the box, and Logarzo made no mistake with the subsequent spot kick to get one back.
However the joy in the Western camp was short lived as Varley made amends for conceding the penalty moments earlier by heading home Chelsea Blissett’s corner kick to give the Roar back a three goal buffer.
United did have a couple of exciting flashes of attack in the final few minutes of the first half, but were ultimately unable to decrease the deficit any further in before half time.
However Laini Freier was able to add to her tally for the afternoon, after she found herself in plenty of space, let a shot rip from distance and successfully caught out Lincoln.
Many of the stats at half time really showed how dominant the Roar were. The visitors had about 13% more of the ball, and had an almost 30% better duels success rate than their hosts. Both sides had seven shots on goal, but five of the Roar’s were on target compared to just two of United’s.
Western United made some intriguing substitutes early in the second half. Catherine Zimmerman was brought on at half time while Logarzo was withdrawn minutes into the half, perhaps because of the knock she copped seconds before the half time whistle.
However the Roar really continued in the second half the way they ended the first, putting plenty of pressure on the United defence. Deborah-Ann de la Harpe and Yallop were particularly lively in the opening minutes, setting up plenty of chances for their side.
Sharn Freier eventually joined her sister in the brace tally, heading home another well placed corner to give the Roar their sixth goal of the match.
Laini scored her hattrick goal, making it a second in as many weeks. Set up by Sharn again, Laini’s initial shot was blocked by Lincoln, but the ball was then spilled and Laini pounced to put the ball in the back of the net.
Yallop eventually did get on the scoreboard, eventually heading a bouncing ball into the net to break the record for her side.
However just many would have thought United’s spirit was totally broken, they plucked a second goal for the match out of nowhere. It was ultimately given as an own goal off the head of Holly McQueen, but it did give the home fans something to cheer about after what had been a rather miserable evening.
Despite already having eight on the board, Brisbane did not stop attacking and almost had a ninth but the woodwork saved the home side as both Yallop and Mariel Hecher cannoned shots against the left hand post. In the end they had to settle for eight goals scored, but no one would be complaining in the visitors’ change rooms after that one.
Check out Impetus’ Beck Hartley’s photo galleries from the game now on our Instagram page @impetusfootball
Teams: WESTERN UNITED (4-1–4-1): Lincoln, Sardo, Cene, Maher, Grove, Medwin, M.Taranto, Roach, Hieda, Logarzo, Johnson. Substitutes: Dall’oste, Mihocic, De Domizio, Dehakis, Zimmerman.
Scorers: Logarzo 30’, McQueen 73’ (OG).
BRISBANE ROAR (3-4-2-1): Sekany, de la Harpe, McQueen, Varley, Blissett, Woods, Hayashi, S Freier, L Freier, Yallop, Kuilamu. Substitutes: Richards, Hecher, Levin, Kruger, Pringle. Hoyos.
Scorers: S. Freier 9′, 53′, Hayashi 17’, L. Freier 26′, 45+3′, 61′, Varley 32’, Yallop 70’.
Referee: Caitlin Williams.
Attendance: 907.
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