Brisbane Roar and CommBank Matildas legend Tameka Yallop came off the bench to score a last-gasp winner in her side’s 3-2 triumph over Melbourne Victory on a wet and wild night at Spencer Park.
Lightning in the vicinity of the stadium shifted kick-off back by 20 minutes and, with one minute left of regular time to play in the second half, more lightning strikes – some as close as one kilometre from the venue – led to a delay in play of more than an hour as Brisbane were left to wait to collect all three points in a five-goal thriller.
Both sides eventually returned to the field of play as Brisbane managed to see out six minutes of added time to defeat Victory 3-2 and clinch three points in the opening round of the season.
For all the goals, highlights and key stats, head to the match centre
The Roar scored first at Spencer Park through star Dutch recruit Bente Jansen but goals to Victory debutants Rhianna Pollicina and Kennedy White saw the visitors turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead before half-time.
Back at Brisbane on loan from German giants VfL Wolfsburg, Matildas winger Sharn Freier played from the start in the Round 1 fixture and on return to her hometown club, scored a crucial equaliser to set up a barnstorming finish to the game.
READ MORE: Why Sharn Freier is back in the A-Leagues after European ‘whirlwind’: ‘I found out quickly’
As one Matilda restored parity for the Roar, another stole all three points with a leaping header at the back post in the 86th minute, just seven minutes after coming off the bench at Spencer Park.
