Brisbane Roar 3-2 Melbourne Victory
by Isabelle Campbell (1/11/25)
Above: Brisbane Roar celebrate as they got their season off to a perfect start despite tricky conditions. Photo: via Brisbane Roar
The opening round of the Ninja A-League season continues to no shortage of drama as Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory met at Spencer Park last night.
A lightning delay and a last-minute swap which saw Rosie Curtis step in for Grace Maher in the Victory starting XI before play finally got underway. With Victory having won 2-0 in their last encounter, Roar were determined to begin the new campaign on a stronger note.
The match kicked off at a lively pace, with Melbourne Victory on the front foot from the opening whistle. Before a minute had passed, the visitors had already forced a corner, setting the tone for an energetic start. Rachel Lowe had the first real chance of the match, latching onto a loose ball inside the area, but her effort was comfortably gathered by Roar goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln.
Victory’s new recruits looked sharp early, with Zoe McMeeken combining neatly with fellow debutant Kennedy White for another attempt on goal, though the shot drifted wide. White continued to threaten, soon drawing a full-stretch save from Lincoln as the Roar keeper kept her side level.
At the other end, Sharn Freier sparked Brisbane’s first promising attack, bursting down the pitch before laying the ball off to Ashlyn Miller, whose finish failed to trouble Courtney Newbon in the Victory goal. Moments later, a goalmouth scramble had Holly Furphy almost see the ball home for Victory, but Lincoln again held firm to deny her.
Brisbane’s best early chance came when Grace Kuilamu won possession and set up Freier, forcing Newbon into an awkward save with her leg. That pressure paid off soon after, as new Dutch signing Bente Jansen announced herself to the league in style, curling a superb strike into the top corner to put the Roar ahead.
Victory hit back swiftly when new signing Rhianna Pollicina produced a stunning equaliser, levelling the score with a composed finish. The visitors then turned the match on its head six minutes later, as White finally got the goal she had been chasing all half, giving Victory a 2-1 lead.
Despite two minutes of added time, neither side could add to the tally, and the visitors went into halftime holding the advantage after a thrilling opening 45 minutes.
The early stages resumed quietly, with neither side creating much until the 59th minute when Rachel Lowe again tested Chloe Lincoln, who dealt with the shot comfortably.
Brisbane soon found their rhythm, and it was a familiar face who made the difference. On her return to her hometown club, Freier produced a composed finish to draw the Roar level at two all, a moment met with loud applause from the Spencer Park crowd.
Soon after, Victory’s Sienna Techera made her A-League debut, entering the match just a day before her 19th birthday.
The Roar began to push forward, with Laura Pickett coming close from a corner, her strike narrowly missing the target.
Both goalkeepers were called upon as play opened up. Lincoln kept Brisbane steady at the back, while Courtney Newbon was forced into a diving save to deny Freier a second goal.
Victory nearly regained the lead through Alana Jančevski, who with her trademark long-range ability struck a low free kick from distance with her left foot, but the effort rolled just past the post.
The decisive moment came late in the half when Yallop, making an instant impact off the bench, rose highest to head the ball home and give the Roar a 3-2 advantage. With time winding down, the match was brought to a close shortly after as lightning in the area prompted an early end to proceedings, confirming Brisbane Roar’s opening-round win over Melbourne Victory.
Teams: BRISBANE ROAR (4-3-3): Lincoln, Varley, Medwin, Seidl, Kruger, Woods, Studer, Freier, Jansen, Miller, Kuilamu. Substitutes: Franco, Stephensen, Yallop, Meyers, Kinsella, Piazza.
Goals: 22’ Jansen, 64’ Freier, 86’ Yallop.
MELBOURNE VICTORY (3-5-2): Newbon, Morrison, Curtis, Pickett, Pollicina, Jančevski, Lowe, McMeeken, Sakalis, White, Furphy. Substitutes: Bunge, O’Keeffe, Techera, Young, Woodward.
Goals: 35’ Pollicina, 42’ White.
Referee: Izzy Cooper
Attendance: 1,245
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