Red-hot Roar to take ALW finals lead to Wellington
Joel Gould |
Brisbane Roar scored a stunning 2-1 comeback win over Wellington Phoenix in the first leg of their semi-final on the back of scintillating attacking play.
Wellington will host the second leg of their A-League Women semi next weekend, but Brisbane, on the back of their fifth win in a row, will travel with confidence.
The match was a wonderful advertisement for the women’s game. It was end-to-end initially with a high level of skill and intensity, enhanced by the sold-out crowd of 3849 at Brisbane’s Spencer Park.
Phoenix were playing the first final in their history and started on fire with a headed goal in the second minute to Grace Jale.
The hosts hit back in the 14th minute with a cracking header by Roar powerhouse midfielder Momo Hayashi.
Brisbane had the better of the rest of the opening half.
Their dominance continued after the break and striker Daisy Brown put Brisbane ahead with a clinical strike in the 73rd minute.
“I am stoked,” Brown told AAP.
“I’ll do anything for this team. It didn’t matter who scored so long as we got the win.
“We know when we are competitive and playing at our best that we can win, so we go to Wellington full of confidence.”
She said Hayashi’s goal and enthusiasm were inspirational.
“We love Momo so much and we are just so proud of her,” Brown said.
The visitors got off to the dream start when foundation player Jale headed home at the far post from a pinpoint Manaia Elliott corner.
Jale was unmarked, and the Roar defence was rattled again two minutes later when striker Makala Woods hit the post.
Roar defender Ruby Cuthbert was in tears in the seventh minute when she was assisted from the field with a suspected ankle injury.
Roar coach Alex Smith replaced her with striker Bente Jansen, who moved to the left wing.
Brisbane hit back in sensational fashion in the 14th minute. Corner specialist Alicia Woods was the provider for Hayashi, who raced into the box like a runaway train to power a header into the back of the net
In another breathtaking piece of audacity and skill, Hayashi thumped a 35m free kick low and hard towards goal, drawing a fine save from Victoria Esson.
The elite skill level of Australia under-23 midfielder Woods was a highlight of the opening half.
The visitors appeared content to play for a draw in the second half, but Brisbane attacked in waves.
Exquisite vision and a pinpoint through-ball from Kijah Stephenson gave Jansen a shot on goal after the break, but Esson was up to the challenge with a desperate save.
Esson was at her best again to save an Ashlyn Miller long-range thunderbolt.
Miller’s cross to the talented Brown was then buried, much to the delight of the partisan crowd.
Matildas star and Roar club captain Tameka Yallop came off the bench and went close to adding a third late in the match.
AAP