Melbourne City’s Westfield W-League finals hopes are on life support after they went down to Brisbane Roar 1-0 at AAMI Park on Friday evening.
Despite absolutely dominating possession and chances the home side simply couldn’t breach the Roar defence, something that would prove fatal when Chioma Ubogagu found the back of the net for the visitors 15 minutes from time.
The loss leaves City stranded in sixth spot, two points outside the top four while Brisbane look set for post-season action after temporarily moving up to second.
The home side showed their attacking intent right from the whistle, ruthlessly bombarding forward and suffocating any Roar attempts to move upfield.
Elise Kellond-Knight tested Brisbane goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold early on but the closest City’s possession came to paying off was just after 23 minutes when Rhali Dobson missed a sitter.
SO CLOSE! This Rhali Dobson chance had @MelbCityWFC fans on their feet ?
?: @FOXFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/zYxW4kw1Xl
— Westfield W-League (@WLeague) January 11, 2019
Pouncing on a mistake from Clare Polkinghorne, City defender Steph Catley drove a cross in towards Dobson but the winger thumped her point-blank effort straight into the crossbar and back into play.
It was a huge miss in the circumstances and despite boasting a dominant 64 per cent share of possession the home side would head into the sheds without anything to show.
If City were unlucky not to lead they were downright culpable immediately after the restart when Kellond-Knight shockingly missed a penalty after Jasmyne Spencer was fouled by Jenna McCormick in the penalty area.
The uncharacteristic miss from the Westfield Matilda would prove fatal as attack after attack from City was repelled by a Brisbane defence that had more than earned a share of the points.
They would do one better however when on 74 minutes Ubogagu was put through by McCormick before cutting inside onto her right and unleashing a shot past Lydia Williams.
City pushed even further forward late on and were lucky not to concede a second as a first season without finals appears a very real possibility.
