Melbourne Victory suffered its first loss of the Westfield W-League season with a thrilling 4-3 defeat to Brisbane Roar on Sunday.
Summary
Christine Nairn had cancelled out Allira Toby’s opener with a tremendous free-kick at a wet Lions Stadium.
But second-half own goals from Casey Dumont and Natasha Dowie put the league leader on the back foot.
However, Victory continued to battle and made for a tight finish after Dowie and Emily Gielnik scored – either side of a Yuki Nagasato strike – but it was unable to find a dramatic equaliser despite Katrina Gorry’s red card.
Despite the loss, Victory remains three points clear at the top midway through the season.
Brisbane made the stronger start and it was rewarded with a 10th-minute opener, Toby striking from distance.
After Dani Weatherholt and Gielnik threatened for Victory, it deservedly equalised midway through the first half.
Dowie was fouled on the edge of the area and Nairn curled in a brilliant free-kick for her second goal of the season.
Nairn forced a save from Mackenzie Arnold in the 26th minute while Carson Pickett and Chioma Ubogagu went close for Roar before Gielnik hit the side-netting.
But Brisbane restored its lead early in the second half, Ubogagu’s strike from an angle deflecting off Dumont and in.
Roar made it 3-1 just after the hour-mark as Dowie, under pressure from Clare Polkinghorne, headed a Nagasato corner past Dumont.
But Victory continued to fight and Dowie put away a sixth goal of the season, reacting quickest to a rebound after Gielnik hit the post.
Nagasato scored at the other end before Gielnik swept in a Lia Privitelli cross, Victory unable to find an equaliser despite Gorry picking up a second yellow card deep into additional time.
Result
Westfield W-League 2018/19 Round 7
Brisbane Roar 4 (Allira Toby 10′, Casey Dumont 47′ og, Natasha Dowie 61′ og, Yuki Nagasato 90′)
Melbourne Victory 3 (Christine Nairn 23′, Natasha Dowie 82′, Emily Gielnik 90+2′)
Next up
Victory has a short turnaround before Round 8, visiting Adelaide United on Friday, December 21.
