Western United celebrating their win over the Brisbane Roar. (Image: Keep Up/Website)
Wet and slippery conditions welcomed Western United and Brisbane Roar as both teams travelled to Tasmania for the first time in Liberty A-League Women’s history.
The game had implications for the visitors, looking to keep in touch with the top four, whilst for Western United, looking to bounce back as they look to secure top spot for another round.
The match itself was a battle of the midfield in the first half, with the slippery conditions coming into effect. Both teams played a transitional game, with Katrina Gorry and Melissa Taranto scrapping for the ball.
Western United was comfortable building in space, chipping the ball to open plays, being more connected and showing more composure passing from defence to midfield, whilst Brisbane Roar applied the pressure but struggled to find the finished product down in attack.
Hillary Beall composed herself in the first 20 minutes, with Brisbane building pressure and defended like a brick wall, not allowing any easy attack flow and denying goals in the early stages.
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In her final game for Western United, Jess McDonald brought her efforts down the wing, showing her class and experience, creating plenty of run and chances down the field.
Coming back into the lineup, Alana Cerne brought the defensive intensity and pressure, and composure, keeping Roar forward Larissa Crummer quiet, not allowing any easy touches of the football.
Western United’s first goal came from Hannah Keane in the 47th minute. Taranto and McDonald connected well together to find Keane, running into the box and kicking directly in front of goal, giving United a one-to-nil lead at halftime.
With Brisbane looking to get back into the game, the Roar looked to take a risk and stop the flow United found. Whilst applying the pressure in the defensive third, the Roar couldn’t find numbers in attack, with United shutting down the options.
Tyla-Jay Vlajinic scored her second goal for the season, taking on the left wing and playing her role well throughout the game, including the second half, showing her fierceness and being practical directly in front to kick United’s second goal of the match.
Western United showed their class and was clinical in stoppage time, dangerous with their delivery passes and constantly restarting and finding the better options and controlled the space to seal the victory.
Western United will look to continue the momentum when they face Canberra United next Saturday.
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