Brisbane Roar 2-0 Melbourne Victory
by Isabelle Campbell (8/1/25)
Above: Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Courtney Newbon engaged in an aerial battle with Brisbane Roar’s Evdokiya Popadinova. Photo: Richard Haines / Front Page Football.
Brisbane Roar clinched a huge three points in the battle of second against third at Perry Park today thanks to a brace from Grace Kuilamu.
The visitors had gone into the game looking to stretch their unbeaten run to eight matches. Both teams entered the match level on 18 points, separated only by goal difference, and just four points behind the current league leaders, Melbourne City.
All eyes were on the scoring form of Laini Freier, who has shone in her debut season with seven goals so far—more than any other player in the league. After back-to-back hat-tricks, Freier’s attacking prowess was expected to test Victory’s defense.
Brisbane Roar wasted no time making their presence felt at Perry Park. Just seconds after kickoff, Sharn Freier fired a shot at goal, forcing Courtney Newbon into an early save. Moments later, she threatened again, connecting with a well-placed ball from her sister Laini, but Newbon was once again up to the challenge.
Roar kept pressing and earned a free-kick in a dangerous area after Emily Pringle was fouled by Sara D’Appolonia. The ball bounced threateningly around the box, but Victory managed to clear the danger.
At the other end, Alex Chidiac tried to ignite her side’s attack with a left-footed strike from distance, but it flew wide of the target. Emily Gielnik later connected with a through ball from Claudia Bunge but couldn’t direct her header into the goal.
Possession soon swung back to Brisbane, and Pringle tried her luck from a tight angle, but Newbon was quick to shut down the effort. The breakthrough finally came as Grace Kuilamu, who was making her return from injury, rose to head the ball in from close range, giving Roar their well-deserved lead.
Victory’s defense struggled to contain the attack of Roar, and Newbon was called into action again to deny Laini Freier’s long-range effort with a sharp save. However, she once again couldn’t keep out Kuilamu, who netted her second to complete her brace.
Victory had one late chance before halftime when Nicki Flannery unleashed a long-range strike, but Olivia Sekany parried it to safety. Brisbane headed into the break as the more dominant side, recording eight shots on target to Victory’s one and holding a commanding 2–0 lead.
The second half began with both teams struggling to break through their opponents. Ten minutes in, Tameka Yallop took a chance from distance, but her shot flew just over the crossbar, keeping the scoreline unchanged. Brisbane had a series of corners shortly after, but none resulted in a clear-cut opportunity.
As the clock ticked down, Sharn Freier fired a ball from outside the box in an attempt to extend her side’s lead, but it drifted just wide. Moments later, the action quickly shifted to the other end, where Emily Gielnik tested Sekany with a long-range effort, however the keeper was up to the task and made a routine save.
Victory’s best chance came from Ella O’Grady, whose shot went wide after a scramble in the box. With more time taken, it could well have been the opening goal for Victory. Sekany again denied Gielnik, who found space inside the area but still was unable to beat the Roar goalkeeper.
In five minutes of added time, both sides had opportunities, but neither could make a change to the scoreline. The match ended 2-0 in favour of Brisbane Roar, with Kuilamu’s brace proving to be the match-winning difference.
Both sides play again in just three days with Brisbane Roar travelling to go head to head with table-toppers, Melbourne City. Melbourne Victory will be looking to regain momentum as they face Newcastle Jets.
Check out our Instagram page – @ImpetusFootball to view Richard Haines’ two galleries of images from the match at Perry Park.
Teams: BRISBANE ROAR (3-2-4-1): Sekany, Pringle, McQueen, Varley, Blissett, Kruger, Hayashi, S.Freier, L.Freier, Yallop, Kuilamu. Substitutes: Richards, De La Harpe, Hecher, Popadinova, Woods.
Scorers: Kuilamu 22’, 37’.
MELBOURNE VICTORY (4-4-2): Newbon, Wilson, Bunge, Murphy, Chidiac, Flannery, D’Appolonia, Gielnik, Morrison, Lowe, Jancevski. Substitutes: O’Grady, Curtis, Pickett, Sakalis, Candy.
Referee: Bec Mackie
Attendance: 2,965.
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