Are you watching, Melbourne City? Brisbane Roar have moved to within one point of the league leaders, after a brace from 17-year-old Grace Kuilamu helped the Roar to a 2-0 win over third-placed Melbourne Victory.
Back in the squad after a one-week injury absence, Kuilamu scored two first-half goals to help the Roar clinch their seventh win of the season against a Victory outfit that had lost just once heading into the Wednesday night clash.
“It means a lot,” Kuilamu said after her match-winning performance against Victory.
“It was obviously unfortunate last year, I started the year off with two rounds and then, unfortunately, had an ACL injury. So it’s great starting this year off strong, and it’s great to be back on the field – especially with this team. I couldn’t be happier.”
Brisbane’s comfortable win over a fellow top-four contender has set up a mouth-watering match-up with City at AAMI Park on Saturday night. The only unbeaten side remaining in the Ninja A-League after 10 games this season, City are now just one point ahead of Alex Smith’s Roar heading into the weekend.
“It’s definitely an exciting game this weekend,” Kuilamu added. “Especially with us possibly going to the top of the ladder. We’re really looking forward to it as a team, and I reckon we’re going to kill it.
“I think our focus is to keep playing how we’re playing, play our game, obviously as (head coach Alex Smith) has said previously, and (then) no team can beat us.”
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The hosts began the contest with a flurry of chances as twin sisters Laini and Sharn Freier combined to devastating effect.
Laini supplied the delivery to Sharn for two big early opportunities but Victory keeper Courtney Newbon stood tall to keep the Roar and CommBank Matildas winger at bay.
Newbon was superb for Victory through the first half but was unfortunate to end the opening 45 having conceded two goals to Kuilamu who put Brisbane ahead in the 22nd minute with an opportunistic finish from close range.
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Fifteen minutes later, the 17-year-old secured her brace, arriving on the scene to tuck the ball away after Newbon’s spilled save off Sharn Freier’s strike from a tight angle.
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The 2,965-strong crowd at Perry Park were not treated to a second-half goal, with neither side able to add to the scoresheet after the break – but the majority of the fans in the house went home very satisfied after watching their side return to winning ways after a surprise 2-1 loss to Canberra United on the weekend.
“How about that crowd: 2,965 on a Wednesday night in Brisbane, to go with the almost three and a half thousand that turned out on Saturday against Canberra,” said Network 10 commentator Ben Homer.
“They love this side, Brisbane Roar fans. They’re having a tough time of it in the Isuzu UTE A-League – not so in the Ninja A-League this season. Brisbane fans absolutely enjoying the spectacle!”
Brisbane Roar take on Melbourne City at AAMI Park on Saturday night, in what promises to be an epic encounter between the top-two sides.
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