Brisbane Roar boss Jake Goodship says a series of attacking training sessions held this week by club legend and A-League icon Henrique helped the Roar cast their scoring woes aside and lash six goals past Melbourne Victory on Friday night.
Brisbane came into the Round 5 Westfield W-League contest desperate for goals after drawing all four of their opening fixtures, scoring just twice in the process.
Goodship has an abundance of talent at his disposal but the likes of Emily Gielnik, Tameka Yallop, Mariel Hecher and Sharn Freier had yet to find their rhythm in the 2020/21 campaign.
That was before Henrique, the retired Roar icon, answered Goodship’s call to conduct some intensive attacking clinics in the lead up to Brisbane’s contest with Victory, which helped reinvigorate the struggling strike force.
READ: Heyman reveals how life-changing 18 months sparked her remarkable comeback
READ: Beating City will ‘do us wonders’ in quest for first Finals appearance says Holmes
Gielnik was the star of the show against Victory, assisting the opening goal and scoring two of her own to go with solitary strikes to Hecher, Yallop, Freier and Winonah Heatley in what was a phenomenal win for the Roar.
“We brought in Henrique for some specialised sessions this week and it worked wonders with Emily [Gielnik] in particular,” Goodship said post-match.
“Olivia [Chance] and Tameka [Yallop] were also exceptional for us tonight.”
“It was great to be playing on the Gold Coast in front of an excellent and enthusiastic crowd.”
“Credit to the players, we’ve been threatening all season,” Goodship added.
“We realised it wasn’t good enough previously.
Once we got two or three we knew we were going to get five or six and it could have, should have, been more.”
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6225223680001
Brisbane currently sit in third place on the table with one game to play in Round 5 after securing a much-needed first win of the campaign along with an emphatic goal difference boost.
It’s the exact result Brazilian attacker Hecher says was needed to help Brisbane click into gear in some style.
“We knew something like this was coming and there’s nothing better than six goals to decide our first win,” she said.
“As a striker, you survive on how many goals you score so I was really happy to get off the mark and hopefully there are more to come.
“We have the best defenders in the league so the clean sheet was deserved reward for all the hard work we’ve been putting in during the week.”
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6225194969001
MORE: How to watch Westfield W-League Round 5
MORE: Team of the Week, presented by Bunnings Warehouse – Round 4
Ways to watch
Download the MyFootball Live App now
ABC TV
Sign up for Kayo Sports
Get Foxtel
SQUAD TRACKER: All players signed for Westfield W-League Season 2020/21
