No Sharn Freier? No worries for Brisbane Roar as young gun Grace Kuilamu stepped up to inspire a drought-ending 1-0 victory over Wellington Phoenix in the Ninja A-League.
The Roar were without CommBank Matildas star Freier due to an ankle injury amid their three-game losing streak but teenage sensation Kuilamu led the way with the match-winning goal in the 62nd minute on Sunday.
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE NINJA A-LEAGUE
Goal number five of the season for the 17-year-old meant Brisbane ended Round 14 in fourth position, six points behind unbeaten leaders Melbourne City, while eighth-placed Wellington missed the chance to jump into the top six.
It was an evenly-contested opening half at Perry Park, though Alyssa Whinham was a constant threat for the Phoenix throughout the contest as Wellington eyed their first away win against Brisbane.
DERBY DELIGHT: City rip top spot from Victory’s clutches as 89th-minute drama settles rivalry clash
F3 DERBY DOMINATION! Star imports and teenage sensations inspire Mariners to big win over Jets
She had two decent chances to put the visiting side ahead as rain started to fall from the half-hour mark, while an incredible pass from Wellington centre-back Alivia Kelly nearly delivered the breakthrough goal in the third minute of additional time after Manaia Elliott’s cross-cum-shot flashed just wide.
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE NINJA A-LEAGUE
The Roar came closest to hitting front 13 minutes into the second half when 17-year-old sensation Kuilamu rattled the post with a ferocious effort from outside the box.
Kuilamu did get her goal four minutes later. A corner into the box saw Laini Freier stand in front of Wellington goalkeeper Carolina Vilao, who felt she should have been awarded a free-kick as Kuilamu was on hand to find the back of the net.
Elliott tried her luck from distance again for the Phoenix, in search of an equaliser, but her shot went over the bar with 19 minutes remaining.
The game started to open up as Vilao was forced into a big save to deny Matildas star and Roar captain Tameka Yallop, while at the other end Grace Jale came within a whisker of restoring parity.
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE NINJA A-LEAGUE
Evdokiya Popadinova came off the bench and almost added some gloss to the scoreline with a thunderous strike that hit the underside of the crossbar but it mattered little as the Roar saw out victory.