A stunning goal from Melbourne Victory’s Melina Ayres wasn’t enough as league-leaders Brisbane Roar came back to win 2-1 on Friday with US star Celeste Boureille scoring a classy winner.
Victory keeper Casey Dumont starred for the visitors in what was an entertaining, feisty clash at Suncorp as part of a double-header with the Hyundai A-League.
The win cemented Roar’s position at the top of the league.
STORY OF THE GAME
- CHANCE: Victory’s Alleway hit the bar with a header off a corner after 17 mins
- GOAL: A thunderbolt from Ayres gives Victory the lead after 21 mins
- CHANCE: Roar’s Butt with a long-range rocket tipped over by Dumont after 36 mins
- DOUBLE-SAVE: Dumont with a superb double stop to keep Butt out on the cusp of the break
- HALF-TIME: 0-1 Entertaining fare with both sides going for it but a stunning goal separated the two sides
- GOAL: Polkinghorne equalises after 56 mins for Roar
- TOP SAVE: Dumont with another brilliant tip over, this time from Gorry’s deft set piece on the hour mark.
- BRAVE: Dumont and Alleway with big defence. Both Victory players needed attention after their clearance.
- GOAL: Boureille heads the winner with 10 mins of regulation time left.
- INJURY: Alleway hurt her ankle in the final minutes after a challenge from Butt.
- SIX MINS OF INJURY TIME:
- FULL-TIME: 2-1
GOALS
Ayres Victory 36′ 0-1
Roar backed off and Ayres went boom! Her powerful drive from distance whistling past Macca Arnold’s left-hand dive. What a class goal.
Polkinghorne Roar 56′ 1-1
The Roar skipper outjumped the Victory defence and guided her header home from a corner.
Boureille Roar 80′ 2-1
Pickett with a deft ball in and Boureille guiding a perfect low header past Dumont from the penalty spot.
