A Natasha Dowie hat-trick has led Melbourne Victory to a 4-1 win over Brisbane Roar in the Westfield W-League on Sunday.
Dowie started the year as she ended 2016 – in goalscoring form – as her treble led Victory to its first win of the season.
Laura Spiranovic opened the scoring at A.J. Kelly Field, only for Roar to level through Amy Chapman.
But Dowie restored Victory’s lead before the break and struck twice more after the interval for the club’s first ever Westfield W-League win in Brisbane.
Bianca Henninger, making her return from a knee injury, was forced into a couple of early saves before Spiranovic headed in an 18th-minute corner.
In hot conditions, Roar equalised three minutes before half-time through Chapman.
But Victory responded, Dowie restoring the lead after goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold failed to deal with a cross.
Roar was on top to start the second half before Dowie struck again, beating Arnold in a one-on-one.
Dowie completed her hat-trick in additional time for what was her eighth goal in nine games this season.
The hat-trick is the seventh in the club’s history and first since Rachael Quigley struck three times against Newcastle Jets in November 2014.
Brisbane Roar 1 (Amy Chapman 42′)
Melbourne Victory 4 (Laura Spiranovic 18′, Natasha Dowie 45’/72’/90+3′)
