The Lady Reds turned in a gallant performance before succumbing to Westfield W-League champions Brisbane Roar 2-1 at Burton Football Complex.
The Lady Reds turned in a gallant performance before succumbing to Westfield W-League champions Brisbane Roar 2-1 at Burton Football Complex.
Adelaide United-s Women-s Team was solid in the first half and enjoyed a couple of chances before going behind as Brisbane scored either side of half time.
Marijana Rajcic pulled one back for the Lady Reds with a quarter hour to play ensuring a frantic finish as the home side searched for an equaliser and their first points of the season.
Coach David Edmondson said the Lady Reds were impressive defensively but must improve on possession.
“It was a much more solid defensive performance which was something we had really concentrated on during the week,” he said.
“We did not keep the ball well enough which increased the pressure on us and forced us to chase the ball too much, especially at the start of the second half.”
“It was a much improved defensive performance showing greater patience and discipline. We still have a long way to go, in particular in our possession play and our ability to support our front runners quickly enough and to get bodies into scoring positions.”
United started well and defended strongly while Brisbane were happy to play out from the back and break down Adelaide-s defence.
Roar keeper Hoshimi Kishi, who deputised for the suspended Casey Dumont, was busy early with a handful of saves to deny United.
Lady Reds forward Racheal Quigley saw her low drive flash past the upright before the bustling Rajcic forced Brisbane defender Laura Alleway into action and concede a corner.
But it was the Roar who opened the scoring with skipper Clare Polkinghorne finding the back of the net after a stunning 25 metre effort that sailed over United keeper Kristi Harvey.
The Lady Reds come out of the half time break looking to get back into the contest but it was the visitors who doubled their lead after a bright start to the second half.
Emily Gielnik watched her half volley rebound out of the upright in the 63rd minute before the ball was crossed into Ashely Spina who converted a header from close range.
United then grabbed their first in the 76th minute when Brisbane keeper Kishi spilled a cross leaving Rajcic to thump the ball into an unguarded net.
The goal inspired the Lady Reds to search for an equaliser and they peppered the visitors- goal in the last 15 minutes.
Quigley did well to create enough space for a shot on the edge of the area but fired it straight at the Roar shot stopper.
Reds substitute Daniel Di Bartolo almost drew the sides level right at the death but her shot from close range was also drilled straight at Kishi.
Adelaide United 1 (Marijana Rajcic 76-)
Brisbane Roar 2 (Clare Polkinghorne 38-, Ashley Spina 63-)
Saturday 12 November 2011
Adelaide United: Kristi HARVEY (gk), Ruth WALLACE, Anna GREEN, Abby ERCEG, Racheal QUIGLEY, Leanne SLATER (Grace FRENCH-KENNEDY 70-), Marijana RAJCIC, Donna COCKAYNE (Daniela DI BARTOLO 80-), Georgia MACRI (Ashleigh GUNNING 61-), Nenita BURGESS, Katherine EBBS
Substitutes not used: Sian MCLAREN (gk)
Yellow Cards: Marijana Rajcic 90-
Red Cards: Nil
Brisbane Roar: Hoshimi KISHI (gk), Laura ALLEWAY, Karla REUTER, Clare POLKINGHORNE, Brooke SPENCE, Joanne BURGESS (Ellen BEAUMONT 90-), Ashley SPINA, Tameka BUTT, Vedrana POPOVIC, Sasha MCDONNELL (Catherine CANNULI 78-), Emily GIELNIK (Lana HARCH 71-)
Substitutes not used: Monique NELSON (gk)
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil
