Adelaide United Women have suffered a fourth straight loss by a one-goal margin after falling 3-2 to Brisbane Roar Women at Lions FC Stadium on Saturday.
The Reds found themselves down 2-0 inside 12 minutes thanks to goals from Indiah-Paige Riley and Hayley Raso.
Mary Fowler grabbed a goal back with a stunning strike midway during the first-half and the visitors showed great character to level the score via an individual run and finish from Mallory Weber.
However, on 83 minutes Raso notched her second of the evening to ultimately seal all three points.
Georgia Campagnale received her first start of the season as Ivan Karlović made one change to the starting XI, while Chelsie Dawber was named on the bench.
Adelaide were immediately on the back foot and fell behind four minutes into proceedings.
Rylee Baisden’s cut-back found Riley free in the box and she made no mistake, slotting home from close range.
Tameka Yallop then struck the crossbar two minutes later with a shot that looped onto the crossbar and headed for the top corner.
Baisden registered her second assist of the afternoon as the hosts doubled their advantage when her cross found Raso, who controlled and beat her defender to dispatch her effort past Sarah Willacy.
Fowler halved the deficit in the 25th minute with a brilliant turn and finish on the edge of the 18-yard box, arrowing a powerful, low drive into the bottom corner.
The Reds finished the stronger of the two teams, dominating possession but Brisbane had the best chance in first-half stoppage time.
It would have been a goal of the season contender as Katrina Gorry’s audacious chip from 40 yards out had Willacy scrambling back, but the shot-stopper managed to expertly tip the effort onto the crossbar.
Brisbane’s urgency lifted at the resumption of the second-half as they bossed the tempo of the game.
United were indebted to Willacy after she was called into action on several occasions to deny the likes of Baisden and Butt.
But after surviving an incessant spell of Brisbane pressure, Adelaide scored against the run of play as Weber, who had been dangerous throughout the contest, dribbled forward at pace and unleashed an effort from distance.
Parity was short-lived with Brisbane profiting from a lightning counter-attack.
Allira Toby played Natalie Tathem and she releases Raso through on goal who rounds Willacy sliding her finish home to make it 3-2.
In injury time, Weber almost had a brace when her long-range effort ricocheted off the crossbar.
Key moments:
4’ | GOAL: Baisden cuts the ball back and finds Riley unmarked in the middle of the box for a simple finish.
12’ | GOAL: Baisden gets her second assist of the afternoon when her cross from the right is controlled and dispatched by Raso, giving the Roar a 2-0 lead.
25’ | GOAL! Fowler grabs her second of the season after creating space for herself on the edge of the box and picks out the bottom corner with a thumping low drive.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6115799033001
45+3’ | CHANCE: Gorry almost manages to chip Willacy from a long way out but the goalkeeper races back to her line and tipping the effort onto the crossbar.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6115813721001
76’ | GOAL! Weber runs forward at pace evading the attentions of three Brisbane players before seeing her shot fly past Arnold.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6115809928001
83’ | GOAL: Raso makes it 3-2 with a composed finish following a swift counter-attack involving Toby and Tathem.
Match details:
Saturday, 14 December 2019
Westfield W-League 2019/20 Season – Round 5
Brisbane Roar Women 3 (Riley 4’ Raso 12’ 83’)
Adelaide United Women 2 (M. Fowler 25’ Weber 76’)
Venue: Lions FC Stadium
