Adelaide United 1-3 Brisbane Roar
By Kieran Yap 7/12/25
Above: Bente Jansen (L) Photo: Brisbane Roar.
Brisbane Roar gained a valuable three points on the road against Adelaide United. Bente Jansen’s brace and a sparkling display by Kiera Myers was enough to secure a 3-1 win against Adelaide United.
Alex Smith’s Roar travelled to Cooper’s stadium for their first outing in three weeks. A bye and a postponement meant that their last game was on the 16th of November, and they were looking to bounce back from that 1-0 defeat to Western Sydney.
Adelaide United had a similar gap between games, but were aiming to sustain momentum from a win against Canberra United almost a month ago.
Brisbane started the strongest of the sides. They fielded a very attacking lineup, with Tameka Yallop, Jansen, Sharn Freier, Grace Kuilamu and Meyers all starting, but they defended from the front. The Roar pressed Adelaide aggressively and any ball that got out the back was mopped up and returned by Momo Hayashi or Alicia Woods.
Adelaide’s midfield of Adriana and Melissa Taranto and Emily Condon, struggled to maintain possession or move the ball forward in the opening stages. The game was largely being played in Brisbane’s attacking third and Meyers’s tricky footwork created the first real chance of the game, but her cross was blocked.
Despite Brisbane’s early dominance, the home side almost took the lead. Chelsie Dawber’s cross was whipped in dangerously but Melissa Taranto’s outstretched effort was centimetres away from connecting.
Brisbane’s attack finally delivered the opening goal though and it was Grace Kuilamu who broke the deadlock. The young striker calmly finished off Aimee Medwin’s cross from the left to make it 1-0 in the 29th minute.
Brisbane’s strong start was challenged by an apparent hamstring injury to captain and star playmaker Tameka Yallop. The Matildas midfielder pulled up short as she chased a ball towards goal. She punched the turf in frustration and was replaced by Kijah Stephenson.
The injury might have dampened the mood, but not Roar’s momentum. Another flowing passing move found Sharn Freier in space, and another cross from the left ended up in a goal. This time is was Jansen who nodded back across goal to double the advantage.
Adelaide United grew into the game in the second half and pulled one back in spectacular style. After winning the ball back in attack, Dawber’s clever flick put Erin Healy infront of goal, but still with three defenders and 18 yards between her and scoring.
The shot was almost unsavable from the Ireland international. She rocketed the ball beyond Chloe Lincoln before the goalkeeper or her defenders could ready for the strike. It was 2-1 and Adelaide had their spark back.
Another attack from the home side looked like it could be one of the goals of the season. An excellent passing move that began with Holly Murray at the left of defence and ended up with Isabel Hodgson crossing from the right deserved a goal, but Hayashi was ready to clear and deny Adelaide an equaliser.
Even without Yallop, Brisbane’s attack still looked deadly when given the chance and with Adelaide searching for a second, they left themselves exposed to counter attacks through the pace of Kuilamu or Freier.
Kuilamu’s through ball, put Jansen into space and she raced in on goal, although Claudia Jenkins did well to block the initial shot at close range, Jansen was able to scramble home the rebound the effectively seal the result with just over 20 minutes to play.
The Dutch forward almost had a hat trick when Hayashi pushed forward to play her in on goal, but her finish was uncharacteristically off target. Despite that missed chance, Brisbane were able to hold out Adelaide to record a 3-1 win and climb to the top of the table with games in hand over both Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC.
Next up for the Roar is a potentially tricky visit to face and unpredictable Newcastle. Adelaide United will head to Melbourne where Victory await.
Lineups: Adelaide United (4-2-1-3): Jenkins, I Hodgson, McNamara, Murray, Tonkin, M Taranto, A Taranto, Condon, Dawber, Healy, Worts. Substitutes: Rossi, E Hodson, Zois, Murray, Millar, Tolland.
Goals: Healy 51’
Brisbane Roar (4-1-4-1): Lincoln, Millar, Hayashi, Varley, Medwin, Woods, Freier, Yallop, Jansen, Meyers, Kuilamu. Substitutes: Stepehenson, Studer, Kruger, Franco, Kinsella, Piazza.
Goals: Kuilamu 29’ Jansen 45’ 67’
Referee: Caitlin Williams.
Attendance: 4,004.
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