Brisbane forward Shea Connors has turned in a stunning display for the second consecutive week to keep her side’s Liberty A-League finals hopes alive in the 2-0 win over Western United.
Connors’ cracking first-half goal gave the Roar the lead at Perry Park.
She sealed the deal in the 93rd minute with her second to lift Brisbane to 20 points, just three outside the A-League Women’s top four.
Roar coach Garrath McPherson said before the match that his side would need to win all four remaining games to have a shot at playing finals.
They started out like a team determined to do exactly that with Connors full of running against second-placed Western United.
The previous week Connors scored the equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Wellington in a stellar individual display.
Since McPherson has moved Connors from the wing to striker the side has looked more dangerous as a result.
“I used to play a lot at striker when I was younger so it feels a bit like home,” Connors told AAP.
“I feel a lot more free and I don’t have to think as much.
This win is massive. We’ve just beaten a team in the top four that has beaten just about everybody else so there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be in finals.
“That’s the attitude we have to take into our remaining games.”
The US-born Connors almost curled a left-footer in from wide out and on an acute angle early.
Her 18th minute goal was classic poaching. A through ball bounced around on the edge of the box and she hit it with her left foot sweetly while in motion to beat goalkeeper Hillary Beall and deposit the ball in the top of the net.
Western United had their chances. Roar goalkeeper Hensley Hancuff saved a sweet shot from Western star Hannah Keane.
Adriana Taranto unleashed a right-footer that hit the woodwork for the visitors but the Roar held a 1-0 lead at the break.
Connors came out on fire in the second half and drew a great save from Beall.
At the other end Western’s Jacyln Sawicki hit the woodwork. In the second half the Roar seemed content to hang on to their lead.
When Connors got her chance in stoppage time she swooped to secure the win.
