A gallant Lady Reds outfit were overcome by Brisbane Roar with the defending champions recording a 2-0 win on the Sunshine Coast.
A gallant Lady Reds outfit were overcome by Brisbane Roar with the defending champions recording a 2-0 win on the Sunshine Coast in Week 8 of the Westfield W-League.
Adelaide United again copped an early goal and faced an uphill battle for the rest of the game, but despite Brisbane opening the scoring on six minutes, the Lady Reds performed solidly and enjoyed enough chances to grab an equaliser, before the Roar added a second in stoppage time.
Aivi Luik picked out the bottom corner of Sian McLaren-s goal after United failed to clear a corner. The low shot from the top of the box just beat the outstretched keeper.
Brisbane controlled much of the first half with McLaren called into action again a short time later, denying a point-blank header from Jo Burgess.
Burgess- powerful header was tipped onto the bar and out for a corner with McLaren pulling off a brilliant reflex save.
Lady Reds striker Marijana Rajcic fired over the bar with a shot from 25 metres out before Emma Checker put through Donna Cockayne with a delightful through-ball but the winger could find a way past Roar keeper Casey Dumont.
Checker was providing the Lady Reds with plenty drive as the 15-year-old broke the lines and carried the ball out of defence.
The Australia U17 representative turned in her finest performance for Adelaide United this season and again released Cockayne midway in the first half, but Brisbane thwarted the attack before Cockayne could get a shot away.
Brisbane pushed to double their lead and kill off the contest but were denied by McLaren who also had her best match for the Lady Reds.
Tameka Butt saw her shot from the edge of the area take a deflection off United skipper Abby Erceg and it looked to be looping over McLaren before the keeper produced another stunning save to tip the effort over the bar.
McLaren denied Butt moments later with the speedster through on goal before Rajcic almost pulled United level.
Kiwi international Anna Green whipped in a cross from the left but Rajcic was unable to get a touch on the delivery before Emily Gielnik sealed the result for the host in injury time with a delightful finish from just inside the area.
The Brisbane substitute was put through on goal by her captain Clare Polkinghorne before lifting her shot just over the onrushing McLaren to make it 2-0.
Brisbane Roar 2 (Aivi Luik 6-, Emily Gielnik 90-+1)
Adelaide United 0
Saturday 10 December 2011
Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast
Brisbane Roar: Casey DUMONT (gk), Laura ALLEWAY (Olga CEBRIAN-GRACIA 72-), Clare POLKINGHORNE, Brooke SPENCE, Joanne BURGESS (Sasha McDONNELL 82-), Kim CARROLL, Catherine CANNULI (Emily GIELNIK 87-), Lana HARCH, Aivi LUIK, Tameka BUTT, Vedrana POPOVIC
Substitutes not used: Hoshimi KISHI (gk)
Yellow cards: Catherine Canulli 87-
Red cards: Nil
Adelaide United: Sian McLAREN (gk), Ashleigh GUNNING, Anna GREEN, Abby ERCEG, Racheal QUIGLEY, Leanne SLATER (Ebony PHILCOX 80-), Marijana RAJCIC (Georgia MACRI 80-), Donna COCKAYNE, Emma CHECKER, Grace HENRY Katherine EBBS (Daniela DI BARTOLO 83-)
Substitutes not used: Kristi HARVEY (gk)
Yellow Cards: Ashleigh Gunning 30-
Red Cards: Nil
