Brisbane Roar’s finals hopes are still flickering after holding Liberty A-League defending champions Melbourne Victory to a 1-1 draw in stifling Queensland heat.
The match was played at Perry Park in Brisbane in oppressive conditions with the temperature topping 33C at the 2pm (AEST) kick-off.
As a result, the players were given drinks breaks at 15-minute intervals.
Roar defender Jessie Rasschaert suffered from the heat in the 88th minute and sat down on the pitch with an extra unscheduled drinks break being called as a precaution.
Rasschaert recovered and bravely continued the match before being substituted in stoppage time.
The draw keeps the Roar in fifth on 16 points, still six points behind fourth-placed Victory with a game in hand.
The Roar started like a side whose season was on the line and they had the better of the early stages.
Matildas midfielder Katrina Gorry had two clear shots, one saved by Casey Dumont and the other sliding just wide.
In the 19th minute, Gorry brought down Victory forward Beattie Goad in the box and Matildas representatives Alexandra Chidiac converted the penalty to give the visitors the lead.
Two minutes later, Roar winger Shea Connors then came up with a candidate for the goal of the season.
In traffic on the edge of the box, she turned on a dime and curled a right-footer past Dumont.
The two No.10s, Gorry and Chidiac, both posed questions in the second stanza while Connors had a blinder down the left with her speed and skill a highlight.
The players from both sides showed extraordinary resilience and athleticism in the conditions, with the ball movement of a high standard.
Victory dominated possession but the Roar still managed 20 shots on goal.
Dumont and Roar’s goalkeeper Hensley Hancuff came up with great saves for their teams.
