Adelaide United have secured a surprise 2-2 draw away to Brisbane Roar in a thrilling top-versus-bottom Westfield W-League encounter at Ballymore Stadium.
The Roar were hot favourites going into the match having gone 17 games unbeaten, while United were still chasing their first win of the campaign.
However, the visitors proved no pushovers, racing to a two-goal lead before facing a spirited comeback from the reigning champions.
It looked to be business as usual early on as Lana Harch looked to give Brisbane an early lead with a volley from outside the area which zipped past the post.
But the visitors hit back and stunned their illustrious opponents with two goals in the space of 10 minutes.
Georgia Chapman’s corner flew over Kate Stewart in the Roar goal and landed the feet of Racheal Quigley at the far post, who steered the ball home.
On 20 minutes later the Reds doubled their advantage in spectacular fashion, Ruth Wallace letting rip with a shot from 20 metres which flew in off the underside of the bar, giving Stewart no chance.
Rattled by the opening Brisbane slowly began to kick into gear and pulled a goal back shortly before half time.
After shots from Jo Burgess and Harch went off target, Tameka Butt found the mark from outside the area to puncutate a dazzling run through the heart of the Reds defence, although Sian McLaren in the Adelaide goal might feel she could have done better.
Elise Kellond-Knight completed the comeback eight minutes after the restart with more question marks over the goalkeeping.
In an attempt to shield the ball out for a goal kick, McLaren allowed Sasha McDonnell to nip in and tee up Butt.
The shot was well blocked by the Adelaide defence but the ball found its way to Kellond-Knight and the Brisbane midfielder drove the ball low into the net from the edge of the box.
With the comeback complete, the home team pushed hard for a winner with McDonnell and substitute Jenna Tristram a constant menace for the Adelaide defenders.
A crucial intervention from Reds skipper Christina Papageorgiou denied McDonnell a one-on-one chance before Tristram had two shots well saved by McLaren.
With five minutes of injury time added on the visitors were sweating on the referee’s whistle, especially when Tristram rounded the goalkeeper, but a stumble at the crucial moment let Adelaide off with a point.
Brisbane Roar 2 (Butt 42′, Kellond-Knight 53′)
Adelaide United 2 (Quigley 10′, Wallace 20′)
