Western Sydney Wanderers 1-1 Brisbane Roar
By Callum Logie 16/1/26
Above : Bente Jansen. Photo: Brisbane Roar
Friday Night in Marconi Stadium saw two teams having quite different seasons battle to a hard-fought draw. A late substitute strike from Ella Buchanan was mitigated by an added time equaliser from Bente Jansen, keeping Brisbane in the top six.
Western Sydney came into the fixture after falling 3-1 away to Perth Glory, whereas Brisbane were looking to get back-to-back wins after a key away victory over Melbourne Victory.
The Wanderers adjusted their formation to be a bit more positive at home, with Yuan Cong returning to the starting line-up with Holly Caspers dropping to the bench.
Olivia Price returned to the starting line-up as Ena Harada dropped to the bench and Emilia Bennett got the start at full-back in place of Ella Buchanan.
On Brisbane’s side of the ball, there were no changes to personnel in the starting line-up, but Aimee Medwin and Ashlyn Miller swapped starting positions from what the team presented at Melbourne.
In what’s been a tough season for the Wanderers, the hosts were able to start positively, immediately electing for a wing play approach to try and feed lofted deliveries to Yuan. Brisbane deployed a rather deep back-line, with the three midfield players helping out defensively when off the ball.
After just two minutes, Brisbane Roar were able to create a great chance right away. Jansen strayed wide from her advanced position and held the ball up for Alicia Woods who quickly found the run of Aimee Medwin. With space outside the box, Medwin took a shot from the edge of the area and tested Khamis who directed the powerful shot wide for a corner.
The first 15 minutes of the game were tensely fought, particularly in midfield with many hard challenges from the respective sides’ holding midfielders.
Amy Chessari needed to exit the game in the 16thminute due to injury concerns, which brought Harada on earlier than planned for the Wanderers.
Patience was the name of the game, with any shot taken being blocked or deflected. In the 28thminute, Khamis produced an excellent save after a deep back post corner from Woods found Leia Varley with a free header. Khamis was able to leap to her left and deflect it wide. Khamis was also able to collect the effort from the subsequent Marianna Seidl corner that Sharn Freir deflected goalward.
In the 41st minute, a speculative ball forward found the feet of Jansen who cut inside from the right and drove a low shot toward the Western Sydney goal. It was just wide of the far post, but the Roar looked like the more likely to score of the two teams.
Jansen looked the most dangerous going forward for both teams, the defence of WSW focusing on the threat of Freir while the Roar defence looked to keep Yuan contained, both to great effect in the first half.
Scoreless at halftime, the teams would be looking to make some adjustments in order to break the deadlock in the second half.
Everything was still to play for in the second half, with WSW looking to break their 61-day winless streak and Brisbane Roar looking to move up the table as they look to cement a place in the finals.
The Wanderers had the first meaningful chance of the second half as a corner found the chest of Poppie Hooks who was able to get enough force behind it to force a solid save from Chloe Lincoln.
At 54 minutes, Khamis gave the ball away when she was trying to clear to Medwin. Medwin took a quick touch and drove the ball toward the near post. Khamis was able to recover very well and made the save to keep the game scoreless.
The second half was more evenly contested than the first in terms of possession, Western Sydney putting together some more passing sequences and providing some pressure on Brisbane. It was a game of strong defences and a great goalkeeping performance from Khamis.
Khamis showed her prowess again in the 64thminute as a strong driven effort from Woods was patted wide of the post by the experienced keeper.
In a remarkable sequence, Western Sydney managed to open the scoring in the 83rd minute. Kim So-Eun made a sharp dribble move down the right side and drove a low cross through everybody to find Ella Buchanan who was able to scramble the ball over the line at the far post.
Chloe Berryhill was injured in added time and had to be helped off the field. Hopefully not a serious injury for the Western Sydney forward.
In added time, around the 95th minute, Brisbane found Jansen on a run behind which sent her one on one with Khamis. Jansen managed to round the keeper and keep her composure to slide the ball into the bottom corner to tie it up just before the final whistle.
Considering the balance of play through the game, the draw was a fair result as Brisbane’s play was strong throughout the game. The Wanderers goal was very well worked and provided some hope for the team moving forward into the season.
Teams: WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS (4-3-3): Khamis, Bennett, Hooks, Wang, Matos, Chessari, Price, Harrison, Younis, Yuan, Berryhill. Substitutes: Buchanan, Caspers, Cerne, Edwards, Harada, Kim.
Goals: Buchanan 83′.
BRISBANE ROAR (4-2-3-1): Lincoln, Seidl, Varley, Hayashi, Medwin, Woods, Piazza, Freir, Brown, Miller, Jansen. Substitutes: Cuthbert, Franco, Kinsella, Meyers, Stephenson, Studer.
Goals: Jansen 90 + 5′.
Referee: Lara Christie Lee
Attendance: TBC
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