Melbourne Victory Women have toiled hard to beat Brisbane Roar, coming from behind to win 2-1 at Lakeside Stadium.
Hayley Raso’s opener 90 seconds into the game was cancelled out just a minute before half time by Racheal Quigley, before Christine Nairn’s 80th minute strike capped off Victory’s second half dominance.
Brisbane got off to the best possible start when Raso picked up a ball on the edge of the area and drove a thunderous shot past an outstretched Brianna Davey.
The Roar held the ascendency for the best part of the next half an hour, controlling the game’s tempo.
Raso and Crummer missed gettable opportunities for the visitors, while Racheal Quigley had a shot blocked for Victory in an otherwise actionless opening to the game.
Victory’s best moment came in the 38th minute through good build up play, when Christine Nairn played a clever dinked pass over Brisbane’s defence to an onside Lauren Barnes, whose shot hit the crossbar.
They would not be denied six minutes later, as Christine Nairn’s long diagonal ball found Lisa De Vanna on the left wing in behind the defence, and her low cross was tapped home by Racheal Quigley for the equaliser.
The second period started with the hosts playing with more intent, but Brisbane thought they had the lead when Katrina Gorry played through Emily Gielnik, whose goal was ruled offside.
Kim Carroll’s 61st minute backpass gave Victory a prime opportunity to score an indirect free kick from inside the box, but Nairn blazed her shot over the bar.
Raso was again menacing up front, and Brianna Davey did well to tip her long strike over the bar.
Christine Nairn became Victory’s hero when a menacing run through the middle led to a clever one-two with Lisa De Vanna, with the American tucking the ball past Nadine Angerer to grab the lead.
Nairn had one last chance to put the result beyond doubt, but her free kick whistled agonisingly wide of the goal.
The result was just Victory’s second even win over Brisbane, emulating their grand final effort from last season and ensured the Roar won’t make the finals this season.
Melbourne Victory Women (Quigley 45′, Nairn 80′) defeated Brisbane Roar (Raso 2′)
Melbourne Victory XI: 1. Brianna DAVEY (GK), 2. Hannah BREWER (12. Ella MASTRANTONIO 70′), 5. Lauren BARNES, 7. Stephanie CATLEY (C), 8. Amy JACKSON, 9. Racheal QUIGLEY (29. Caitlin FRIEND 84′), 10. Christine NAIRN, 11. Lisa DE VANNA, 15. Emma CHECKER, 16. Beatrice GOAD, 18. Elli REED.
Unused Substitutes: 20. Cassandra DIMOVSKI (GK), 17. Gulcan KOCA,
Yellow Cards: Jackson 49′, De Vanna 81′
Red Cards: None
Brisbane Roar XI: 1. Nadine ANGERER, 4. Clare POLKINGHORNE (C), 5. Brooke SPENCE, 6. Hayley RASO, 7. Kim CARROLL, 9. Larissa CRUMMER, 10. Katrina-Lee GORRY, 11. Vedrana POPOVIC (16. Angela BEARD 62′), 13. Tameka BUTT, 14. Natasha WHEELER (18. Sunny FRANCO 77′), 17. Emily GIELNIK (19. Ayesha NORRIE 68′)
Unused Substitutes: 20. Kate STEWART (GK),
Yellow Cards: Crummer 24′, Gorry 60′, Spence 72′
Red Cards: None