Brisbane Roar have continued their march up the Westfield W-League ladder with a 3-1 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers on Thursday night.
An own goal by Sydney Miramontez on 34′ opened the scoring, before Western Sydney restored parity just past the hour mark thanks to Georgia Yeoman-Dale.
Indiah-Paige Riley gave the hosts the lead once more, and Allira Toby sealed all three points with four minutes remaining.
The win is Brisbane’s second in a row and, following their 4-3 win over Melbourne Victory, now puts them on equal points at the top with Jeff Hopkins’ side.
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The Wanderers had their first sight on goal 70 seconds in, when Lo’eau LaBonta fired a free-kick straight to Mackenzie Arnold.
A war of attrition ensued at a picturesque Dolphin Stadium as neither side could break the deadlock.
Or so it seemed, when on 34 minutes Yuki Nagasato whipped in a vicious corner.
The ball flew past both sets of players and into Miramontez who, knowing little about it, kneed the ball past debutant Nicole Simonsen.
It was a just reward for Brisbane who had begun to turn the screws and dominate the midfield battle.
The Roar maintained their lead heading into the interval and almost doubled their lead 55 minutes in.
Nagasato was in the thick of it again, this time playing Allira Toby in behind and in on goal. The 24-year-old blazed wide, giving Western Sydney a slight reprieve.
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Western Sydney were by no means the second-best side in the game, and it showed just after the hour mark when Kylie Ledbrook played through Yeoman-Dale.
After her first shot was saved by Arnold, Yeoman-Dale made no mistake with her second effort.
But the scores would only be level for less than six minutes when Nagasato swung in another wicked corner on 69 minutes.
The ball passed Western Sydney’s near-post defenders, and bounced off Riley into the goal for her first ever Westfield W-League goal.
70' | GOOOAAAALLL!! It's the perfect birthday present for @IndiahRiley who puts us back in front!#BRIvWSW 2-1 #RoarAsOne pic.twitter.com/VCb55NO1Fz
— Brisbane Roar FC (@brisbaneroar) December 20, 2018
Brisbane were not content with their one-goal lead and were wary of not throwing away their lead once more.
Carson Pickett marauded down the left touchline and struck a brilliant cross straight into the path of Toby. The 24-year-old cushioned the ball with a superb touch and fired home past a hapless Simonsen.
Brisbane have now scored seven goals in two games, and go on equal points with Melbourne Victory who play Adelaide United on Friday night.
