W-League: Brisbane and Sydney in entertaining draw

Sydney FC were unable to hold an early lead in the W-League on Sunday as Brisbane Roar fought back to secure a 1-1 home draw.

The visitors made a dream opening through Renee Rollason's early opener, but Hayley Raso's second half strike meant both sides remained in mid-table.

Ellyse Perry's second-half corner indirectly led to Brisbane's equaliser.

Sydney looked on track for their third win in four games in the 4th minute when Rollason was well-positioned to stab home a half-cleared corner and put the Sky Blues ahead 1-0.

Matters were made worse for the hosts shortly after the goal as Amy Chapman was forced off the pitch through injury, replaced by Joanne Burgess.

Roar first came within inches of an equaliser in the 15th minute when a Clare Polkinghorne-won free-kick in a central area was planted onto the crossbar by scheming midfielder Katrina Gorry.

The action on a warm afternoon at Goodwin Park really ramped up around the 25th minute thanks to several frenetic moments in front of goal.

Raso originally found width on the right and produced a cutback which found its way through to Gorry, but former Roar 'keeper Casey Dumont miraculously turned the first-time effort wide.

Goalscorer Rollason was then perfectly placed to head Raso's own shot off the line, before Tameka Butt's shot on the turn tested the crossbar for a second time.

While both teams attempted the killer ball too early from the half hour onwards, it only took nine minutes after the break for livewire Raso to draw her new club level.

Substitute Ellyse Perry swung in a Sydney corner at one end but almost as swift as it was delivered did Brisbane break forward, with Larissa Crummer picking out Raso in space for the 19-year-old international to peel off and finish with aplomb across Dumont.

Newly energised support seemed likely to push Roar on to a winner in the final half hour but, aside from Dumont again reacting quickly to snuff out an opportunity for Emily Gielnik, the contest remained even throughout the latter stages.

Despite the points being shared, the visitors did leave with a sour taste by means of Sam Kerr's second yellow and red card in stoppage time.

Brisbane Roar: 1. Nadine ANGERER (gk), 11. Vedrana POPOVIC, 7. Kim CARROLL, 5. Brooke SPENCE, 3. Amy CHAPMAN, 4. Clare POLKINGHORNE, 13. Tameka BUTT, 10. Katrina GORRY, 16. Hayley RASO, 9. Larissa CRUMMER, 8. Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT

Bench: 20. Kate STEWART, 6. Joanne BURGESS, 17. Emily GIELNIK, 18. Sunny FRANCO.

Sydney FC: 1. Casey DUMONT (gk), 11. Anna GREEN, 4. Alesha CLIFFORD, 9. Caitlin FOORD, 2. Teresa POLIAS, 7. Nicola BOLGER, 10. Renee ROLLASON, 20. Sam KERR, 14. Jodie TAYLOR, 18. Emma KETE, 19. Leena KHAMIS.

Bench: 17. Sham KHAMIS (gk), 16. Ellyse PERRY, 13. Trudy, CAMILLERI, 12. Chloe LOGARZO.