Brisbane Roar surged into the Westfield W-League Premiership race by inflicting Sydney FC’s first defeat of the season in a commanding 4-1 win at Leichhardt Oval.
Westfield Matildas ace Tameka Yallop and teenager Jamilla Rankin got the Queenslanders off to a flying start, scoring either side of Clare Wheeler’s goal for the Sky Blues, before Clare Polkinghorne’s second-half header and a late own goal by ‘keeper Jada Whyman sealed the shock result.
Emily Gielnik’s perfectly-flighted delivery was headed in at the far post by Yallop in the eighth minute to notch her second goal of the campaign, before Wheeler offered a quick reply three minutes later by charging down Roar shot-stopper Morgan Aquino’s kick and deflecting the ball into the away side’s net.
Brisbane were handed a gift of their own when Sydney goalkeeper Whyman spilled Mariel Hecher’s right-wing delivery and Rankin scored her first competition goal with a simple close-range tap-in to cap a breathless opening 16 minutes in the Harbour City.
Having not dropped a single point from their six games this season, the Sky Blues’ hopes of maintaining a perfect record were slipping away when Polkinghorne extended Roar’s lead in the 52nd minute with a bullet header from Rankin’s in-swinging corner.
And Ante Juric’s ladder-leaders saw their winning streak evaporate in the 82nd minute as Whyman fumbled Rankin’s cross into her own net, as Jake Goodship’s side celebrated a fourth straight victory to close to gap at the top to two points, although Roar have played a game more than the Sky Blues.
FEATURE: Samantha Lewis: The Westfield W-League’s Olympics bolters
ROUND 8: Westfield W-League 2020/21 Fixture Updates
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Next fixtures – Round 9
Sydney FC v Adelaide United
Sunday, 21 February 2021
Venue: Cromer Park
Kick-off: 4.05pm AEDT
Match Centre
Brisbane Roar v Perth Glory
Sunday, 21 February 2021
Venue: Lions FC Stadium
Kick-of: 7.05pm AEDT
Match Centre
THURSDAY REPORT: Roar up to second thanks to Gielnik’s brace against Wanderers
SIGNING NEWS: Halloway returns to Wanderers
