Gritty Sky Blues hold off Roar

Sydney FC scored a battling 2-1 win over Brisbane Roar at QSAC stadium on Sunday to continue their perfect start to the Westfield W-League season.

The Sky Blues dominated early and were awarded with a Renee Rollason goal, before the hosts came back into the game and found an equaliser through Emily Gielnik in the 37th minute.

Despite having Teigan Allen sent off in the 61st minute, Sydney managed to find the net a second time through Rollason with a quarter of an hour remaining to snatch a crucial away victory.

Brisbane goalkeeper Kate Stewart was called on to make an important save early on from an Amy Harrison shot on goal, after a well-weighted Nicola Bolger through ball.

Sydney had two players lined up at the back post waiting for a deep cross from the left in the 17th minute and it was Rollason who slid in to bury the ball in the back of the net for the opening goal of the fixture.

A moment of Tameka Butt brilliance saw the Roar come close to an equaliser on 28 minutes but her dipping shot from well outside the area landed on top of the net.

The Roar did level the scores ten minutes later when Dumont spilled the ball after clashing with defender Allen on the edge of her six yard box and Gielnik was on hand to slot home.

Allen was dismissed just after the hour mark when she received a second yellow card following a scuffle with Hayley Raso.

Sydney FC kept pushing forward despite being a player down and took the lead once more thanks to a superb Rollason free kick, which curled into the top left corner of the goal from 25 metres out.

Brisbane are at home again next week against Newcastle Jets while Sydney will attempt to continue their momentum away to the Western Sydney Wanderers.

Brisbane Roar 1 (Emily GIELNIK 37’)
Sydney FC 2 (Renee ROLLASON 17’, 76’)