The Westfield W-League summit remains congested after the top-of-the-table clash between leaders Canberra United and Sydney FC ended in a nail-biting goalless draw.
The Westfield W-League summit remains congested after the top-of-the-table clash between leaders Canberra United and Sydney FC ended in a nail-biting goalless draw.
Third-placed Brisbane Roar saw off Adelaide United 2-0 to go level with Sydney, though trailing on goal difference, with three points separating the top three.
Melbourne Victory are now well placed in fourth as they maintained their recent fine form with a 5-0 rout of Perth Glory.
However, all eyes were on the nation-s capital where victory for either team would have been an enormous step towards securing the premiership.
The stalemate leaves Canberra maintaining their three-point buffer and masters of their own destiny, with seven points from their remaining three matches enough to guarantee their maiden crown.
With much on the line a tough and physical contest saw two evenly matched teams battle it out at Deakin Stadium.
After Ashleigh Sykes hit the post in the opening period, the two goalkeepers – Canberra-s Lydia Williams and Sydney-s Allison Lipsher – were largely inactive, although both needed to make impressive stops when called into action.
The Sky Blues lost Servet Uzunlar after the Matildas defender was issued with a second caution ten minutes from full time, but the visitors nevertheless poured on the pressure in the dying stages.
Sydney had a strong claim for a penalty waived away while Sarah Walsh struck a shot into the side netting.
Brisbane Roar made the most of the stalemate by claiming three points with their hard-fought victory over an increasingly stubborn Adelaide side.
The Roar bookended the game with goals from Aivi Luik, her maiden Westfield W-League strike, and also Emily Gielnik with the latter not arriving until deep into added time.
Adelaide defended stoutly and goalkeeper Sian McLaren shone in making a couple of spectacular stops.
It was the latest in a sequence of narrow losses this season which must leave the Lady Reds looking good to break their lengthy winless run against the struggling Perth Glory next weekend at home.
Perth-s disastrous week ended in further disappointment with a 5-0 home defeat against Melbourne Victory.
A record losing scoreline against Sydney last weekend was followed by the departure of two of the Glory-s imports for disciplinary reasons.
A suspension to the team-s third import, Katie Holtham, stretched resources further and it was no surprise when the visitors immediately took charge.
The Victory led by three at the midway point of the first half and only a number of spurned goalscoring opportunities preventing the scoreline from blowing out further.
Victory skipper Jodie Taylor scored a hat-trick – her first in the Westfield W-League – to move to seven goals, behind only Canberra-s Michelle Heyman on the goalscorer-s leaderboard. Attacking midfield dynamo Katrina Gorry was also on the scoresheet with a double.
The win solidified the Victory-s hold on fourth leaving them six points clear of Newcastle, although the Jets have two matches in hand.
Westfield W-League 2011/12 Week 8 Round-Up
Brisbane Roar 2 (Aivi Luik 6-, Emily Gielnik 90-+1)
Adelaide United 0
Saturday 10 December 2011
Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast
Local kick-off: 2pm
Referee: Rebecca Durcau / AR1: Rachel Mitchensen / AR2: Broole Staff / 4th Official: Christie Robb
Brisbane Roar: Casey DUMONT (gk), Laura ALLEWAY (Olga CEBRIAN-GRACIA 72-), Clare POLKINGHORNE, Brooke SPENCE, Joanne BURGESS (Sasha McDONNELL 82-), Kim CARROLL, Catherine CANNULI (Emily GIELNIK 87-), Lana HARCH, Aivi LUIK, Tameka BUTT, Vedrana POPOVIC
Substitutes not used: Hoshimi KISHI (gk)
Yellow cards: Catherine Canulli 87-
Red cards: Nil
Adelaide United: Sian McLAREN (gk), Ashleigh GUNNING, Anna GREEN, Abby ERCEG, Racheal QUIGLEY, Leanne SLATER (Ebony PHILCOX 80-), Marijana RAJCIC (Georgia MACRI 80-), Donna COCKAYNE, Emma CHECKER, Grace HENRY Katherine EBBS (Daniela DI BARTOLO 83-)
Substitutes not used: Kristi HARVEY (gk)
Yellow Cards: Ashleigh Gunning 30-
Red Cards: Nil
Perth Glory 0
Melbourne Victory 5 (Katrina Gorry 3-/24-, Jodie Taylor 26-/64-/81-)
Saturday 10 December 2011
6PR Stadium, Perth
Local kick-off: 4pm
Referee: David Costello / AR1: Josh Mannella / AR2: Michael Nugus / 4th Official: Josh Mihevc
Perth Glory: Mackenzie ARNOLD (gk), Carys HAWKINS, Katarina JUKIC, Sadie LAWRENCE (Shannon MAY 71-), Tanya OXTOBY, Ella MASTRANTONIO, Danielle CALAUTTI (Erika ELZE 46-), Elisa D’OVIDIO, Emily DUNN, Marianna TABAIN, Sarah CARROLL (Lara FILACAMO 59-)
Substitutes not used: Kristy TESCHINSKY (gk)
Yellow Cards: Katarina Jukic 61-
Red Cards: Nil
Melbourne Victory: Brianna DAVEY (gk), Rebekah STOTT, Maika RUYTER-HOOLEY (Gulcan KOCA 46-), Kendall FLETCHER, Danielle JOHNSON, Stephanie CATLEY, Ashley BROWN, Jodie TAYLOR, Catlin FRIEND, Katrina GORRY (Georgie KOUTROVELIS 83-), Amy JACKSON (Enza BARILLA 66-)
Substitutes not used: Cassandra DIMOVSKI (gk)
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Canberra United 0
Sydney FC 0
Saturday 10 December 2011
Deakin Football Stadium, Canberra
Local kick-off: 5pm
Referee: Casey Reibelt / AR1: Sarah Ho / AR2: Allyson Flynn / 4th Official: Samantha Ockerbey
Canberra United: Lydia WILLIAMS (gk), Caitlin COOPER, Caitlin MUNOZ (Kahlia HOGG 66-), Hayley RASO (Georgia YEOMAN-DALE 47-), Michelle HEYMAN, Nicole SYKES, Ashleigh SYKES, Sally SHIPARD, Ellyse PERRY, Taryn HEMMINGS, Jennifer BISSET
Substitutes not used: Aroon CLANSEY (gk), Grace GILL
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney FC: Allison LIPSHER (gk), Teresa POLIAS, Danielle BROGAN, Renee ROLLASON, Estelle JOHNSON, Servet UZUNLAR, Heather GARRIOCK, Caitlin FOORD (Sarah WALSH 62-), Kylie LEDBROOK, Teigen ALLEN (Thea SLATYER 62-), Leena KHAMIS (Kyah SIMON 69-)
Substitutes not used: Sham KHAMIS (gk)
Yellow Cards: Servet Uzunlar 63-, 80-, Renee Rollason 93-
Red Cards: Servet Uzunlar 80
Bye: Newcastle Jets
