The Westfield W-League 2018/19 Season is quickly reaching its crescendo as two sudden-death Semi Finals take place this Sunday.
One of the competition’s four remaining sides is Brisbane Roar, who finished the season in second spot and trailing only Melbourne Victory in the race for the Premiers’ Plate.
On Sunday the two-time Westfield W-League Champions host Sydney FC at Dolphin Stadium in Redcliffe for their Semi Final, the match beginning at 7.15pm (AEDT).
Here’s how the Roar reached the finals.
Intermittent start for Brisbane
The Roar started the season against a Perth Glory side without Sam Kerr in front of nearly 4000 fans at Suncorp Stadium.
Despite the support and having twice as many shots on goal, it took an 88th-minute Carson Pickett equaliser to spare the home side’s blushes with the match ending 1-1.
Mel Andreatta’s charges then scraped past the Western Sydney Wanderers 1-0 at Marconi Stadium thanks to Pickett’s second goal of the campaign, her free-kick slipping under the arms of Wanderers keeper Jada Mathyssen-Whyman.
Brisbane would record their first loss of the season a week later, losing 1-0 at home to Adelaide United as their much-touted attack failed to register a goal, albeit not from a lack of effort.
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Roar on a mid-season see-saw
The following three weeks for Brisbane were as chaotic as any.
The Roar earned their first win over Newcastle since 2014 in another cagey 1-0 affair, Chioma Ubogagu breaking the deadlock at McDonald Jones Stadium and joining Pickett as the only players to have scored for the Queenslanders this season.
An ugly loss followed as a Caitlin Foord hat-trick put the Roar to the sword in a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Sydney FC.
The following round saw the Roar bounce back in an instant classic, ending Victory’s unbeaten start to record a thrilling 4-3 victory in the wet.
Allira Toby netted her first on the campaign, Nagasato her second as own goals to Natasha Dowie and Casey Dumont condemned the Victory to a heartbreaking loss.
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Results acquired as Roar make their move
Yuki Nagasato was at her FIFA Women’s World Cup-winning best in Round 8 against the Wanderers, inspiring Brisbane to a 3-1 victory.
Toby had her third goal in three matches the following round, the Roar lucky to get away with a 1-1 draw at McKellar Park.
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Andreatta’s side continued to earn the necessary points to keep them close to the business end of the ladder, nabbing a crucial 1-0 victory against reigning champions Melbourne City at AAMI Park despite having just two shots on target.
Sky Blue fog surrounds Roar
Brisbane suffered against their Semi Final opponents for the second time, losing 3-1 at home as Foord ran riot yet again.
With question marks surrounding their offensive output, a 4-1 rout of Canberra silenced the Roar’s doubters, Allira Toby netting her fifth goal in six matches in the process.
The season ended with Brisbane’s fourth loss of the season, the 1-0 defeat to Adelaide failing to affect their final position in second.
Star player – Yuki Nagasato
The Japanese international has been at her high calibre best for the Roar as she looks to add another piece of silverware to her illustrious trophy cabinet.
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The 2010 UEFA Champions League winner holds the key to unlocking Brisbane’s offensive arsenal – and Sydney’s defence. Ranking fifth in the league for chances created, her playmaking ability is amongst the best in the competition.
With an in-form Toby and the welcome addition of Hayley Raso to the attacking mix, Nagasato needs to be at her crafty best to unleash the enormous potential this Brisbane forward unit has.
Record against Sydney FC
Roar fans look away now.
Two heavy losses, 5-1 away in Round 6 and then 3-1 at home three weeks ago, have their opponents brimming with confidence ahead of their trip north.
Foord was the chief aggressor for the Sky Blues, netting five of Sydney’s eight goals across the two fixtures.
Finals are a different kettle of fish though, and with the return of a Westfield Matildas calibre player in Raso, anything could unfold at Dolphin Stadium on Sunday Night.
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