Adelaide United Women’s finals destiny is out of its hands after succumbing to a 4-2 loss against Brisbane Roar Women on Friday night.
The Reds remain in the top four for now but will need to beat Western Sydney Wanderers Women next weekend at Coopers Stadium and hope results fall its way to secure a maiden finals berth.
Chelsie Dawber cancelled out Mariel Hecher’s opener before the break, but Emily Gielnik scored a second-half hat-trick to put the game to bed.
Dawber completed her brace late on with another clinical strike though it was merely a consolation with the damage already done.
Adelaide began proceedings on the back foot with Brisbane applying the early pressure.
The Reds slowly grew into the game and acting captain, Mallory Weber, clipped a ball to the back post for the unmarked I. Hodgson and her volley looped safely to goalkeeper Georgina Worth.
Adelaide were busy containing the likes of Hecher, Gielnik and Tameka Yallop and the former two were involved in the Roar’s opening goal.
Sian Fryer-McLaren fumbled Gielnik’s strike and Hecher was there to pounce on the follow-up and break the deadlock.
However, United’s response was a resilient one, dominating the rest of the first-half and on 34 minutes were rewarded with an equaliser.
I. Hodgson flicked a through ball into the path of Dawber and she rifled her effort into the bottom corner.
The visitors struggled to contain the Roar for much of the second stanza as Gielnik snagged a treble in the space of 18 minutes.
The Matildas forward punished the Reds after failing to clear a corner.
But trailing 2-1 Adelaide had two decent chances with Worth denying I. Hodgson and moments later Maruschka Waldus from a corner.
Those missed chances would prove costly as Gielnik met Isobel Dalton’s low cross for her double, before cutting inside and placing her effort beyond Fryer-McLaren on 80 minutes.
Dawber bagged her fifth goal in as many games following a blistering finish in the 87th minute, however it was in vain.
Team news
Adrian Stenta made one enforced change from the side’s convincing win over Sydney FC Women with Emily Hodgson replacing Dylan Holmes to become the fourth player to reach 50 appearances with the Club. Holmes’ departure meant a reshuffle as Chelsie Dawber dropped into midfield, while Isabel Hodgson was pushed to the wing from right-back by her namesake.
Key moments
22’ | GOAL: Hecher is quickest to react after Fryer-McLaren could only parry Gielnik’s shot.
34’ | GOAL! Dawber is played through by I. Hodgson and she picks out the bottom corner with an exquisite finish from the edge of the box.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6239386795001
62’ | GOAL: Adelaide fail to clear the corner and Gielnik is there to drive the ball home.
67’ | CHANCE! Dawber releases I. Hodgson but Worth races off her line and blocks her attempt at goal.
72’ | GOAL: Gielnik converts Dalton’s low cut-back at the near post.
80’ | GOAL: Gielnik bags her hat-trick with a decent strike into the corner.
87’ | GOAL! Dawber has her second with another emphatic finish after receiving a pass from Worts.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6239417896001
Match details:
Friday, 12 March
Westfield W-League 2020/21 – Round 12
Brisbane Roar Women 4 (Hecher 22’, Gielnik 62’,72’,80’)
Adelaide United Women 2 (Dawber 34’, 87’)
Venue: Lions FC Stadium
