Our Roar Women have rounded out 2018 with a hard-fought 1-1 draw away to Canberra United on Thursday night.
Allira Toby’s third goal in three games cancelled out an early opener from the home side as the Roar jump to the top of the Westfield W-League ladder for 24 hours.
Toby’s 38th minute strike proved crucial with the goal scorer saying every point is crucial as we head towards the pointy end of the Westfield W-League season.
“I just like scoring,” Toby said post-match.
“It wasn’t our best performance, but we came away with a point and that’s important for us. We’re coming into business of the season, so getting points on the board is important.”
The home side hit the ground running & opened the scoring in the blink of an eye with Rhoda Mulaudzi pouncing on an errand pass at the back before finishing past Mackenzie Arnold.
Neither side took the game by the scruff of the neck with the majority of play happening in the middle third before the Roar struck back just before the break.
After being denied by a marginal offside call earlier in the half, Allira Toby was the beneficiary of another superb ball into the area from Carson Pickett, and a brilliant header brought about the Roar striker’s third goal in as many games.
An even second half saw few chances continued to be carved at either end with the Roar defence in front of Mackenzie Arnold standing strong and protecting Brisbane’s #1 well.
That desperate defending was best exemplified by a superb last-ditch block from Clare Polkinghorne inside the final 20 minutes, putting her body on the line to deflect a goal-bound shot wide for only a corner.
Both sides pushed hard for a late winner, with the home side hitting the upright in the final 10 minutes, but both were forced to share the spoils in a gripping Thursday night encounter.
With the bye in Round 10, the Roar don’t open their 2019 account until an away fixture against Melbourne City in a Westfield W-League/Hyundai A-League double header at AAMI Park on Friday, 11 January (4:20pm KO QLD time).
The Roar Women then return home to Lions Stadium on Saturday, 19 January (4pm KO) to face Sydney FC.
STORY OF THE GAME
- For the third time in as many games, Allira Toby got her name on the scoresheet, cancelling out Rhoda Mulaudzi’s early opener.
- The Roar staunchly defended throughout the second half and had chances of their own to find a winner on the counter attack.
- After missing last Thursday night’s match against the Wanderers, Roar fans will be pleased to see a second-half cameo from Chioma Ubogagu.
- The result sees the Roar soar to top spot on the Westfield W-League ladder for 24 hours & ensures Brisbane will sit inside the top four at the start of 2019.
GOALS
Canberra United – Mulaudzi 3′ – 1-0
Clare Polkinghorne doesn’t get enough on a pass back to Mackenzie Arnold and Rhoda Mulaudzi swoops and finishes well.
Brisbane Roar – Toby 38′ – 1-1
Carson Pickett whips in a dangerous ball which finds Allira Toby who then heads down, out of the reach of the keeper and in to the bottom corner.
MATCH DETAILS
Westfield W-League 2018/19 – Round 9: Canberra United v Brisbane Roar
McKellar Park, Canberra
Thursday, 27 December
Canberra United 1 (Mulaudzi 3′
Brisbane Roar 1 (Toby 38′
Half-time: 1-1
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