Lisa De Vanna has returned to Brisbane in sensational style, slotting two late penalties to hand Newcastle a 3-2 win at the Cleveland Showgrounds on Saturday afternoon.
The defending Westfield W-League champions looked set to secure their first win of the 2011-12 season, but a collision between star keeper Casey Dumont and De Vanna in the 70th minute turned the match on its head.
Dumont was shown a red card to the complete dismay of her team-mates, while De Vanna stepped up and stroked the penalty past replacement keeper Hoshimi Kishi.
In the 83rd minute, Roar substitute defender Karla Retuer was pinged for an accidental handball and De Vanna stepped up to secure the come-from-behind victory.
De Vanna was full of spirit against her former team-mates, leading the Jets’ offense all afternoon with typical aggression and confidence in attack, and late in proceedings she found reward for her industry.
Three rounds into the season, Brisbane have been left on just one competition point, with a bye and a draw with Sydney in the opening two weeks.
Brisbane appeared to have the upper hand through the opening hour, but failed to capitalise on their superior possession and field position.
After making plenty of inroads with attacks on the flanks, the opener came from Brisbane in the 18th minute when Laura Alleway took a direct approach, controlling a crisp pass at the top of the area and netting top left with a sensational curling strike.
Emily Gielnik looked certain to double the lead five minutes later but after breaking into the area her one-on-one effort went rattling into the post.
From Gielnik’s miss, Newcastle broke away on the counter with De Vanna turning her defender and leading the Jets downfield before playing a perfect cross for Tara Andrews to push bottom right.
Brisbane’s second goal came in the 55th and was of a similar vintage to the first, with Gielnik driving spectacularly from distance and a tight angle to slot the ball in under the crossbar.
Pacey Brisbane attackers Tameka Butt and Sasha McDonnell were constant threats for the hosts in the opening half, creating space consistently and linking well in front of goal, despite struggling with their finishing touch.
Brisbane Roar 2 (Alleway 18, Gielnik 55)
Newcastle Jets 3 (Andrews 24, De Vanna 72 , 83)
