Brisbane Roar have taken a stranglehold on the Westfield W-League premiership race with a drama-charged 1-0 win over Sydney FC to open up a four-point lead at the summit.
Brisbane Roar have taken a stranglehold on the Westfield W-League premiership race with a drama-charged 1-0 win over Sydney FC to open up a four-point lead at the summit.
Second-half substitute Lisa De Vanna was the inspiration for the Roar creating countless goalscoring opportunities with her blistering pace resulting in the dismissal of Sydney FC defender Danielle Brogan on the hour mark.
A goal five minutes after the interval from the Roar-s evergreen attacker Joanne Burgess proved the difference with her shot from the edge of the penalty area going through a forest of legs to deceive Sky Blues goalkeeper Dimi Poulos.
Extremely warm conditions greeted last season-s grand finalists and with temperatures approaching 40C the players took drink breaks at the midway point of each half.
It was little surprise that the first half produced few openings on goal although the always-lively Tameka Butt clipped a half-chance just over the roof of the net, before then firing an effort from outside the penalty area onto the crossbar.
It was soon Sydney-s turn to come close to breaking the deadlock with Kyah Simon unable to convert a golden opportunity to connect with a header with only goalkeeper Casey Dumont to beat.
The match burst into life in the second period with Brisbane taking the lead just five minutes after the interval thanks to Burgess who converted after a lethargic Sydney defence failed to clear a corner.
De Vanna then entered the fray and the drama really started.
Almost immediately the Matildas star made an impact seeing an effort cleared off the line by Teigen Allen and then skewing a header wide.
The turning point came on the hour mark as De Vanna went on a typically forceful run towards goal only to be pulled by back Brogan resulting in a red card and penalty.
De Vanna pushed her spot kick to the left but Poulos pulled off an impressive stop to keep the champions in the match.
There was further bad news for Sydney from the ensuing play as inspirational midfielder Kylie Ledbrook was taken from the field with suspected knee medial ligament damage.
The match largely became one-way traffic as the ten-player Sydneysiders attempted to stem a now rampant De Vanna who was soon joined in attack by the equally pacy Trinidad & Tobago forward Kennya Cordner.
De Vanna then hit the post as Brisbane threatened to run away with the match.
The De Vanna-Poulos side-show continued with the Sydney custodian making a number of spectacular saves from the Roar flyer to keep the contest alive.
Brisbane will now feel the premiership they relinquished to Sydney last season is theirs for the taking although the Sky Blues still have a match in hand.
