Brisbane Roar have collected their first win of the Westfield W-League season and stayed undefeated after disposing of Melbourne Victory 6-0 at the Gold Coast Croatian Sports Centre on Friday night.
Mariel Hecher and Tameka Yallop both scored in the first half with Sharn Freier and an Emily Gielnik brace looking to have completed the scoring before a late goal from Winonah Heatley equaled the Roar Women’s biggest ever margin of victory in a Westfield W-League game.
Victory were looking for back-to-back victories after their maiden win last weekend but, apart from a couple of rare opportunities, never looked like they were going to break down a resolute Roar outfit.
It could easily have been even more with the Roar side hitting the crossbar twice and having a second Hecher goal called back for offside in the 79th minute.
Head Coach Jake Goodship was upbeat after the game.
“Credit to the players, we’ve been threatening all season. We realised it wasn’t good enough previously. Once we got two or three we knew we were going to get five or six and it could have, should have, been more,” Goodship said.
Goodship revealed he turned to the services of a former Roar A-League great in preparation for the contest with his input proving to be a masterstroke.
“We brought in Henrique for some specialised sessions this week and it worked with wonders with Emily [Gielnik] in particular. Olivia [Chance] and Tameka [Yallop] were also exceptional for us tonight.”
“It was great to be playing on the Gold Coast in front of an excellent and enthusiastic crowd.”
Brazilian star Mariel Hecher was stoked to record her maiden Westfield W-League goal.
“We knew something like this was coming and there’s nothing better than six goals to decide our first win,” she said.
“As a striker, you survive on how many goals you score so I was really happy to get off the mark and hopefully there are more to come.
“We have the best defenders in the league so the clean sheet was deserved reward for all the hard work we’ve been putting in during the week.
The Roar Women head on the road again next week, this time to AAMI Park to face defending champions Melbourne City on Sunday, 31 January.
GOALS
Brisbane Roar – Hecher 26’ – 1-0
Victory turn over the ball in defence, one phase later Gielnik puts a pinpoint cross onto the boot of Hecher in the six yard box.
Brisbane Roar – Yallop 39’ – 2-0
Tameka Yallop collects a header from a cleared corner, turns and belts home a 25m strike in off the far post for one of the goals of the season.
Brisbane Roar – Freier 63’ – 3-0
Sharn Freier is afforded space on the far side of a crowded penalty area before calmly beating a defender and slotting home across the keeper.
Brisbane Roar – Gielnik 75’ – 4-0
Brisbane win a free kick on the left flank which Isobel Dalton plays into the area for Gielnik to meet at the near post and knock home a spectacular looping header.
Brisbane Roar – Gielnik 90+1’ – 5-0
Gielnik catches the Victory square across the backline and strolls in for her second goal of the game, and third for the season.
Brisbane Roar – Heatley 90+4’ – 6-0
Dalton swings another free kick in from the left which hits the crossbar allowing Winonah Heatley to bundle the ball home from close range.
MATCH DETAILS
W-League 2020/21 Round 5: Brisbane Roar vs Melbourne Victory
Gold Coast Croatian Sports Centre, Gold Coast
Friday, 22 January
Brisbane Roar 6 (Hecher 26’, Yallop 39’, Freier 63’, Gielnik 75’, 90+1’, Heatley 90+4’)
Melbourne Victory 0
Half-time: 2-0
