Melbourne City has ceded control of the Libery A-League premiership race back to Sydney FC after being defeated 1-0 by Brisbane Roar.
Heading to Kingston Heath Soccer Complex knowing that wins over the Roar, Newcastle Jets and Western Sydney Wanderers would guarantee them the premiers’ plate, Rado Vidosic’s side has instead fallen at the first hurdle.
Hopes of a third premiership in club history now likely rely on them winning both their remaining fixtures, the first of which will come against the Jets next Tuesday.
Their forlorn hope will then be that Perth Glory or Adelaide United do them a favour by knocking off the Sky Blues.
Roar, their third win of the season secured thanks to Mariel Hecher’s 26th-minute effort off a Shea Connors cross, will now seek to go well clear of the ‘race’ for the wooden spoon when they host Canberra next Monday.
Absent the dynamic duo of Holly McNamara after an ACL injury and Hannah Wilkinson and Rebekah Stott to international duty, City’s midfield struggled to find cohesion in the face of fierce Roar pressure throughout the contest.
Bouncing back after being hammered 8-2 by Adelaide, Garrath McPherson’s side’s press and their defensive discipline continuously frustrated the hosts, who struggled to work the ball into dangerous areas.
Despite having most of the possession, their first shot that worked Roar keeper Isabella Shuttleworth came down a goal in the 32nd minute.
Butting up against an embedded defence looking to play on the counter in the second stanza, City came close in the 52nd minute when Tyla-Jay Vlajni’s corner led to a goalmouth scramble that Shuttleworth eventually pounced on.
Thrown forward late, City captain Emma Checker was twice agonisingly close to equalising with chances in the 89th and 83rd but neither of the desperate defender’s efforts found the target.
