Melbourne Victory has ended Brisbane Roar’s Westfield W-League finals hopes and boosted its own with a come-from-behind 2-1 win at Lakeside Stadium on Sunday.
Victory’s Racheal Quigley cancelled out Hayley Raso’s opener moments before the break, while Christine Nairn converted the winner with 10 minutes remaining.
Raso gifted the Roar a perfect start inside the opening two minutes, driving her powerful effort across ‘keeper Brianna Davey into the far corner.
The visitors continued their momentum throughout the majority of the first half, controlling and dominating possession over a slow-starting Victory.
Belinda Wilson’s side had a number of chances to double the lead with Raso and Katrina Gorry coming closest.
American Lauren Barnes then came agonisingly close to an equaliser with one of Melbourne’s first sights on goal, volleying Nairn’s precise dink onto the crossbar.
Victory however squared the ledger on the stroke of halftime following a sensational build up.
Nairn’s raking ball released Lisa De Vanna down the left wing, with the forward squaring up Quigley to tap in from close range.
Despite conceding, Brisbane responded positively upon the restart with Emily Gielnik finding the back of the net, only to be ruled offside by the referee’s assistant.
Raso continued to wreak havoc in front of goal for Brisbane, coming inches close to a second on number of occasions and forcing Davey into a spectacular fingertip save.
An indirect free-kick almost gifted Melbourne the lead with half an hour remaining.
German goalkeeper Nadine Angerer collected Kim Carroll’s back pass, only for Nairn to blaze the resulting free-kick over from six yards.
The American found the winner in the 80th minute though.
Combining with De Vanna once again, Nairn capped off a quick one-two to slot in Melbourne’s second of the afternoon inside the far post.
Melbourne hosts Newcastle Jets in its final home-and-away match at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex next week, while Brisbane will entertain Canberra United at Suncorp Stadium.
Should Victory defeat the Jets, it will be guaranteed a finals spot.
FULL TIME: Melbourne Victory 2 (Quigley 44′, Nairn 80′) defeated Brisbane Roar 1 (Raso 2′) at Lakeside Stadium [HT 1-1], Round 10, 2014 Westfield W-League
Melbourne Victory: 1. Brianna DAVEY (GK), 2. Hannah BREWER (12. Ella MASTRANTONIO 70′), 5. Lauren BARNES, 7. Stephanie CATLEY (C), 8. Amy JACKSON, 9. Racheal QUIGLEY (29. Caitlin FRIEND 84′), 10. Christine NAIRN, 11. Lisa DE VANNA, 15. Emma CHECKER, 16. Beattie GOAD, 18. Elli REED.
Unused substitutes: 20. Cassandra DIMOVSKI (GK), 17. Gulcan KOCA.
Yellow cards: Amy Jackson (49′), Lisa De Vanna (81′)
Red cards: None
Brisbane Roar: 1. Nadine ANGERER (GK), 4. Clare POLKINGHORNE (C), 5. Brooke SPENCE, 6. Hayley RASO, 7. Kim CARROLL, 9. Larissa CRUMMER, 10. Katrina GORRY, 11. Vedrana POPOVIC (16. Angela BEARD 63′), 13. Tameka BUTT, 14. Natasha WHEELER (18. Sunny FRANCO 77′), 17. Emily GIELNIK (19. Ayesha NORRIE 69′)
Unused substitutes: 20. Kate STEWART (GK)
Yellow cards: Crummer (23′), Gorry (60′), Spence (71′)
Red cards: None
