W-League: Rollason causes more pain for Brisbane

Brisbane Roar faced further disappointment in the second round of the Westfield W-League as Sydney FC broke away in the second half to record a 2-1 win despite going down to ten men.

Roar were out for revenge after the four goal drubbing at the hands of Sydney last time they played and were still in pain after last week’s loss to Perth in Round One.

It was Sydney however who were the better side early on, controlling the play and bossing possession and it showed as a double to Renee Rollason was enough to overcome the home team who got on the board through Emily Gielnik.

The match should have been a lot easier for the Sky Blues who had to overcome the loss of defender Teigen Allen after she was sent off for a second rash decision.

The match opened at a fast pace and it wasn’t long before Sydney’s advantage showed on the scoreboard as centre back Rollason slid in to tuck home a cross at the back post.

A number of chances for both sides followed, with neither able to capitalise. Gielnik, Tameka Butt and Kellond-Knight all should have scored for Brisbane,likewise Nicola Bolger for the away team.

Hayley Raso and Casey Dumont were standouts for their respective sides the Roar wingers pace causing trouble while the Sky Blue’s custodian as solid as ever.

Unfortunately for the impressive Dumont, she was involved in the Roar’s equalizer as the collided with her defender Allen which allowed Gielnik to bring the two teams level heading into the break.

Not long into the second half and it looked like Brisbane’s match to lose when Sydney’s Allen was sent from the field after receiving her second yellow card for a scuffle with Raso.

The home team sensed an opportunity however Sydney were able to maintain their form and composure heading into the final stages of the match.

With the Roar unable to capitalise on the numerical advantage Sydney pressed to take the game against the odds and with less than 15 minutes left on the clock, won a free-kick on the edge of the box.

Rollason stepped up and, eyeing a brace, made no mistake as she curled a brilliant free kick past the helpless Kate Stewart.

It was this piece of individual brilliance that set the two sides apart in the end as the game finished 2-1 in Sydney’s favour.

For the first time in their history Brisbane are pointless after their opening two matches and now take on the resurgent Newcastle Jets at Perry Park this Saturday.

Sydney FC travel to neighbors Western Sydney for the first Derby of the season.

Brisbane Roar 1 (Emily Gielnik 38’)
Sydney FC 2 (Renee Rollason (17’, 77’)
Sunday 21 September 2014
Queensland Sport & Athletics Centre, Brisbane
Kick-off: 3pm

Brisbane Roar: Kate Stewart (gk), Laura Alleway, Clare Polkinghorne, Hayley Raso (Sunny Franco 65’), Kim Carroll, Elise Kellond-Knight, Larissa Crummer, Katrina Gorry, Vedrana Popovic, Tameka Butt, Emily Gielnik (Ayesha Norrie 78’)

Unused Substitutes: Teagan Micah (gk), Angela Beard

Cautions: Larissa Crummer 68’, Vedrana Popovic 79’

Sydney FC: Casey Dumont (gk), Teresa Polias, Jasmyne Spencer (Heidi Makrillos 85’), Servet Uzunlar, Nicola Bolger (Alesha Clifford 90’), Amy Harrison, Renee Rollason, Natalie Tobin (Olivia Price 56’), Chloe Logarzo, Teigan Allen, Samantha Johnson

Unused Substitutes: Alyssa Harris (gk)

Cautions: Teigan Allen 44’, 61’, Samantha Johnson 45+2’

Red Card: Teigan Allen 61’