W-League: Roar down Glory to stay second

Quality goals from Tameka Butt and Katrina Gorry have fired Brisbane Roar to a 2-1 W-League win over Perth Glory at AJ Kelly Park on Sunday afternoon.

All three of the match's goals were scored in an 11-minute period beyond the hour mark but Roar's hard-earned two-goal cushion proved enough despite Rosie Sutton hitting back for the visitors.

Ella Mastrantonio delivers a set piece. (Photo: Michael Flynn)

The first chance of the match was created via a slick Brisbane move in which Vedrana Popovic fed Hayley Raso down the right flank, but the winger's squared pass was mishit on the finish by Butt.

Perth had a good chance of their own when Kate Gill shot into the side netting, though it was an opportunity that was overshadowed just minutes later.

Midfielder Gorry found Butt, leading the line for the Roar in the first half, in behind Glory's defence for the attacker to retrieve the pass on the byline.

Butt did exceptionally well to pull the ball across the face where Raso fought to win a clear sight on goal, though she overbalanced and shot over with the goal at her mercy.

The scoreless first half brought about an attacking change for the hosts at the break with Emily Gielnik replacing fullback Natasha Wheeler to spearhead the Roar attack.

Belinda Wilson's side ramped up the pressure as the game ticked past an hour, having two penalty shouts turn down within a minute before the dam finally broke in the 67th minute.

The electrifying Raso led a Brisbane counterattack by reeling in possession on the right, propping and superbly picking out Butt on the left edge of the penalty area. The Matildas mainstay demonstrated her quality by lofting a sweet shot beyond goalkeeper Chantel Jones' reach and into the top far corner.

Just over ten minutes later, Butt was involved a magnificent Roar second.

The 22-year-old foundation player picked up a loose ball in midfield which Gorry recognised as a chance to drive forward, and the pair exchanged one-twos before the latter stroked a calm finish into the bottom corner for a 2-0 lead.

However, as the match seemed set to end in orthodox fashion, Jamie Harnwell's Glory snatched one back almost immediately with Rosie Sutton latching onto Elisa D'Ovidio's floated free kick.

Perth had another pair of half-chances in the final 10 minutes but neither Kate Gill nor Marianna Tabain could snaffle their openings as Brisbane held on to both the three points and their second place on the W-League ladder.



Brisbane Roar: 20. Kate Stewart (gk), 2. Laura Alleway, 5. Brook Spence, 6. Joanne Burgess, 7. Kim Carrol, 8. Elise Kellond-Knight, 10. Katrina-Lee Gorry, 11. Vedrana Popovic, 13. Tameka Butt, 14. Natasha Wheeler, 16. Hayley Raso.

Bench: 21. Teagan Micah (gk), 19. Ayesha Norrie, 9. Larissa Crummer, 17. Emily GIELNIK.


Perth Glory: 1. Chantel Jones (gk), 2. Sarah Carrol, 3. Cecilie Sandjev, 4. Bronwyn Studman, 5. Shannon May, 9. Rosie Sutton, 12. Kathryn Gill, 13. Elisa D'Ovidio, 16. Thia Eastman, 19. Shawn Billam, 21. Christina Julien.

Bench: 28. Gabrielle Dal Busco (gk), 8. Ella Mastrantonio, 15. Jess Dillon, 17. Marianna Tabain.