Two first-half goals have earned Brisbane Roar its first win of the Westfield W-League 2019/20 season in Canberra on Thursday night.
Tameka Yallop’s 51st goal for the Club and a goal on the cusp of half-time from Hayley Raso was enough for Jake Goodship’s side to earn their maiden win of the campaign.
The Roar peltered the home side’s goal throughout the night, dominating large portions of play and coming close to extending their lead on numerous occasions.
Goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold was called into action sporadically throughout the night, remarkably recording her first ever career assist, placing a long ball on a dime for Raso in the 41st minute.
Arnold was also on hand to make undoubtedly the save of the evening, lunging horizontally to tip a goal-bound strike on to the post & to safety in second-half stoppage-time.
“I didn’t know it was coming. I just gave it [the ball] a last push – the ball was there & I just saved it. It was a good save and it kept us in it,” Arnold said post-match.
“The message at half-time was to keep pursuing it [the game]. We haven’t come out as we would have liked in the first few games but we ended the first half strongly & he [Head Coach Jake Goodship] wanted us to keep going with that.
Isobel Dalton impressed in her first Westfield W-League start, while new striker Rylee Baisden was again mercurial in attack and came agonisingly close to her second career goal in the second half, denied only by the underside off the crossbar.
The Roar return to Queensland next weekend, facing Adelaide United at Lions Stadium on Saturday, 14 December (4:30pm KO).
GOALS
Brisbane Roar – Yallop 16′ – 0-1
Hayley Raso lays off to Yallop who finishes with a delightful strike off the underside of the bar to open the scoring.
Brisbane Roar – Raso 41′ – 0-2
A long ball from Mackenzie Arnold falls into the path for Raso who uses her speed to beat Khamis to the punch & head home.
Canberra United – Thorsnes 66′ – 1-2
Thorsnes forces a turnover before charging into the area & firing into top right corner.
MATCH DETAILS
Westfield W-League 2019/20 Round 4: Canberra United v Brisbane Roar
McKellar Park, Canberra
Thursday, 5 December
Canberra United 1 (Thorsnes 66′)
Brisbane Roar 2 (Yallop 16′, Raso 41′
Half-time: 0-2
