Brisbane Roar claimed their biggest win since 2021 after outclassing Newcastle Jets 6-1 in the Ninja A-League on Saturday as Laini Freier capped her first start with a hat-trick.
The Jets were no match for the merciless Roar, who celebrated their biggest triumph since crushing Melbourne Victory 6-0 in January 2021.
It was a memorable outing for Laini Freier – the twin sister of Roar team-mate and CommBank Matildas forward Sharn after scoring a hat-trick – her maiden professional goals, with two of those setup by her sibling.
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Momo Hayashi also scored a stunning free-kick, while 17-year-old Grace Kuilamu and Tamar Levin were also on target for the Roar, who are second in the standings and within two points of reigning premiers Melbourne City through seven games.
Newcastle – semi-finalists last season – are ninth in the table and a point outside the top six.
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Relocated to the No.2 Sportsground in Newcastle due to heat in Maitland, fans were treated to four goals in an entertaining opening half, albeit three of those were for the visiting side.
Likened to Matildas superstar Mary Fowler recently, Kuilamu’s brilliant solo goal gave Brisbane a second-minute lead in the absence of Matildas great Tameka Yallop.
The Jets did restore parity just past the half-hour mark when captain Cassidy Davis found the back of the net, much to the joy of the home crowd.
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But that was as good as it got for the Jets.
Levin restored the Roar’s lead three minutes later before Brisbane’s sister act made it 3-1 approaching half-time.
In a wholesome moment, CommBank Matildas forward Sharn Freier teed up twin sister Laini Freier for her first professional goal.
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Newcastle’s hopes of a comeback were all but extinguished after Momo Hayashi’s breath-taking 49th-minute free-kick rifled past Tiahna Robertson and into the back of the net.
Laini Freier bagged another two goals in a devastating three-minute period to heap further misery on the Jets.
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