Brisbane Roar 1 Adelaide United 3
By Joe Rosedon (19/1/25)
Above: Chelsie Dawber is congratulated by her teammates after her goal. Photo: Adelaide United
An impressive Adelaide United secured 3-2 victory away from home against Brisbane Roar. A brace from Chelsie Dawber and a tremendous individual goal from Erin Healy gave the South Australian side the win.
As typical with top of the table clashes, the opening stages between Brisbane and Adelaide were cagey and tight. Adrian Stenta’s side were dominant in possession but without a cutting edge. The home team looked to punish in transitions but Adelaide were defensively solid.
Chances were few and far between but if any team looked like breaking the deadlock, it was Adelaide. Dawber thought she had a clear sight of goal, but the defensive intervention of Holly McQueen kept the scores level. The following corner saw Matilda McNamara rise highest but could not direct the ball goalward.
Unsurprisingly, Brisbane’s first attacking threat came from the Freier sisters. Laini Freier was able to put in a dangerous cross to the opposite flank to Sharn Freier. Her looping header gave Claudia Jenkins all sorts of problems for the Adelaide goalkeeper who did just enough to divert the ball away from Evdokiya Popadinova after spilling initially.
Adelaide were brutal in punishing Brisbane’s inefficacy. A slick counterattack was concluded when Emily Condon squared the ball to Dawber.
Dawber took a touch and with her second lifted the ball past an outstretched Olivia Sekany into the top right corner from the edge of the penalty area.
The visitors lead only lasted a matter of minutes. A free kick into the box by Chelsea Blissett was not sufficiently cleared and Alicia Woods picked up the pieces. The ball fell kindly to the midfielder who curled home.
Another twist was to take place moments after the beginning of the second half and it came from a moment of individual brilliance from Erin Healy. Healy was able to isolate Holly McQueen and skip past her into the box. Healy remained composed and hammered past Sekany at the near post to restore Adelaide’s lead.
In response, Brisbane ramped up the pressure. Sharn Freierdrove into the box with real conviction and purpose but was met by Jenkins who saved with her legs from a tight angle. The next goal in the game would be crucial.
It was Adelaide who found it. An excellent corner from Condon was headed back into a dangerous area by McNamara towards Dawber who instinctively flicked the ball past Sekanyto grab her second of the game.
Tameka Yallop did pull a goal back in the dying embers of the game for Brisbane. Mariel Hecher’s cross was headed home at close range by the Brisbane captain after a lengthy period of Brisbane pressure. The goal was merely a consolation as Adelaide held on for a crucial three points.
Teams: BRISBANE ROAR (3-2-4-1) Sekany, Varley, McQueen, Blissett, Hayashi, Yallop, L.Freier, Woods, De la Harpe, S.Freier, Popadinova. Substitutes: Richards, Hecher, Kruger, Pringle, Kuilamu.
Scorers: Woods 45’, Yallop 90+3’.
ADELAIDE UNITED (4-3-3): Jenkins, Hodgson, McNamara, Tonkin, Tolland, Morgan, Condon, Sasaki, Dawber, León, Healy Substitutes: Grove, Karambasis, Bowler, Dewey, Panagaris
Scorers: Dawber 42’, 72’ Healy 47’.
Referee: Page Malau-Aduli.
Attendance: 3,712.
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