Melbourne Victory recorded its first win of the Westfield W-League season, edging Brisbane Roar 3-2 in an entertaining clash on Thursday.
Summary
A brace from Natasha Dowie helped Victory to the three points at Dolphin Stadium in Redcliffe.
Victory had taken a 2-0 lead through a Kaitlyn Torpey own goal and Dowie penalty, before Tameka Yallop pulled a goal back for Brisbane.
However, Yallop was denied from the penalty spot by Victory goalkeeper Casey Dumont before a second-half stunner from Dowie, the visitor holding on despite an Indiah-Paige Riley goal.
Victory made the perfect start with a 10th-minute opener away from home.
A teasing cross from the right from Darian Jenkins was aimed at the back post, where Torpey headed into her own goal.
Just three minutes later and Victory had a penalty, Dowie brought down by Claire Farrington inside the area before stepping up to send Roar goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold the wrong way.
Brisbane struck in the 24th minute through Yallop, who converted a low effort from inside the area.
Dowie went close to making it 3-1 five minutes before half-time, but the star forward was denied in a one-on-one by Arnold after a Melina Ayres pass.
The incredible half continued when Brisbane was awarded a penalty for a Dowie handball, but Dumont dived to her left to deny Yallop from the spot.
.@CaseyDumont says no! #BRIvMVC #WLeague @FOXFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/lA9RqgwLHQ
— Victory W-League (@victorywleague) November 21, 2019
Dumont made a brilliant save to keep out a Celeste Boureille strike just after the hour-mark before the shot-stopper denied Yallop and the Roar midfielder again soon after.
Dowie produced a moment of magic at the other end to make it 3-1, superbly volleying a Teigen Allen cross into the bottom corner from just inside the area.
That would be enough for Victory despite the late goal from Riley as it bounced back from its loss to Sydney FC in fine fashion.
Result
Westfield W-League 2019/20 Round 2
Brisbane Roar 2 (Tameka Yallop 24′, Indiah-Paige Riley 80′)
Melbourne Victory 3 (Kaitlyn Torpey 10′ og, Natasha Dowie 14’/76′)
Next up
Victory will compete at the AFC Women’s Club Championship in South Korea beginning with a clash against Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels on Tuesday.
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