Brisbane Roar midfielder Katrina Gorry says her side’s lack of conviction in the final third is costing them points, after stumbling to a third draw in as many games to start the 2020/21 Westfield W-League campaign.
After back-to-back 0-0 draws in Rounds 1 and 2, Gorry fired Brisbane into the lead against Canberra United with the club’s first goal of the season at Dolphin Stadium on Thursday night.
The Roar dominated their visitors for the majority of the contest, mounting a stern assault on Canberra’s goal as they created a 22 to 13 advantage in total shots throughout the 90 minutes.
Ten of Brisbane’s shots were on target but only one of those shots found its way into the back of the net, and after a flurry of opportunities went to waste Brisbane paid the price when Grace Maher scored a goal of the highest order from within the centre circle to somehow salvage the Green Machine a draw.
MATCH REPORT: Brisbane Roar 1-1 Canberra United
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6220895685001
Speaking post-match, Gorry said the individual joy of scoring her own outstanding goal was outweighed considerably by the frustration brought on by her side’s wastefulness in the final third.
“It’s always nice to score, but disappointing result in the end,” Gorry told FOX Sports.
“It’s just the final pass for us, we create so many chances and our back for are so solid, so we need to be better in the front third and start finishing our chances.
“It’s tough not getting a few goals and coming away with three points, but we know it will come, we’re performing well and creating chances, so hopefully it will come.”
READ: Westfield W-League 2020/21 Fixture Updates – Round 4 & 5
HOW TO WATCH: Westfield W-League Round 3
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6220875102001
As Gorry and her teammates were left to scratch their heads wondering how they failed to take all three points from the contest, Canberra midfielder Maher could barely hide her excitement after single-handedly snatching her side a point in outrageous fashion.
Collecting the ball on the halfway line, Maher took two touches on the turn and fired a strike which surprised Brisbane goalkeeper Georgina Worth as it flew over her outstretched gloves to bury itself into the back of the net.
But in the words of the Canberra midfielder, her stunning equaliser was no fluke.
“I love my long range shots, everyone knows that,” Maher told FOX Sports.
“I felt I had the wind and time, so look, if I hit it and it was hard enough hopefully it would go in.
“I think right in the end the wind helped me a little bit to get over the line.
“That wind was a big factor, we faced it in the first half and we knew how hard it was to get out of that half, so I definitely feel we could have poached it at the end.”
MATCH PREVIEW: Newcastle Jets v Sydney FC
MATCH PREVIEW: Melbourne City v Melbourne Victory
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6220892325001
Maher continued: “Brisbane were quality tonight as well and could have had their fair share of winning goals too.
“It was a hard-earned draw.
“We’ve got a good ten days between our next game, that’s more break than we’ve had in the first three games, so we’re looking forward to reflecting on this game, getting back on the training pitch and ready for Newcastle. “
