Melbourne Victory were beaten for the first time this season on Saturday evening, losing their Matchweek 4 Ninja A-League fixture away to Brisbane Roar.
Two goals toward the end of the first half, arriving 11 minutes apart, did the damage in the heat at Gioca Stadium.
Murphy Agnew’s accurate finish, followed by a Maja Markovski header, ended the Girls in Blue’s unbeaten start, which had seen them beat Western Sydney Wanderers and Newcastle Jets as well as drawing with Wellington Phoenix.
Victory head back from their travels into successive home matches, hosting Adelaide United on Saturday, November 14, kick-off 3:00pm AEDT, and Perth Glory on Sunday, November 22, kick-off 3:00pm AEDT. Tickets for both can be purchased now by clicking here.
Team news
Jeff Hopkins was without reigning Goalkeeper of the Year Courtney Newbon due to a leg injury, so there was a first Victory start for Ayana Aoyagi, whilst former Brisbane player Alicia Woods returned to the midfield, having observed concussion protocol since the Matchweek 2 trip to Wellington. Chelsea Blissett was back in the squad after overcoming the issue that kept her out of the home opener against Newcastle.
Match action
The visitors asked all the early questions in Queensland, with opposition goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln having to stand firm to well-hit efforts from Sophie Harding and Anna Sutter, either side of a Skye Leach curler that refused to bend enough to find the top corner.
Brisbane were helpless as the siege continued, and despite Sutter’s cross clearing everybody, Angie Beard, whose career has featured two spells at the Roar, quickly recycled it back into the danger zone, where Holly Furphy’s turn and shot was not far away.
Woods then tried her luck at finding the same corner, but she also sent the ball the wrong side of the upright before the teams and officials took a hydration break under the beating sun.
Brisbane returned from this pause offering more upfield and took advantage of some stand-off defending to take the lead in the 36th minute. Agnew was allowed to carry the ball from halfway to the edge of the penalty area, taking the opportunity to shift onto her left foot and scorch the ball into the bottom corner.
Victory was inches from levelling when Sutter struck the crossbar, with replays showing that Lincoln’s fingertip touch was critical in keeping the ball out.
That intervention not only kept the Roar ahead, but propelled them on to a two-goal lead at the break. Agnew turned provider, crossing invitingly from the right for Markovski, who got up well to head home.
Half-time: Brisbane Roar 2-0 Melbourne Victory
There were two changes at the break, and attacking ones at that, as Ella O’Grady and Alana Jančevski, being used more offensively this term, entered the fray.
Jančevski was quickly into the action, keeping Lincoln honest with a hooked effort, then a number of players in Victory colours felt a penalty should have been forthcoming as Hali Long put Sutter off-balance in a jostle to meet Woods’ free kick from deep.
Nicki Flannery, a third introduction from the bench, caused disruption to the Roar’s clean-up operation at the near post, and when this spurted out to Jančevski, her goalbound volley had to be headed away by Long.
Next, Flannery again got to a cross, as Furphy delivered an inswinger, but the No.11 could not contort her body to get the header on target.
With the hosts visibly retreating at a rate of knots to preserve their lead, chances kept coming for those from Melbourne, and from almost underneath the crossbar, after Bunge got first contact to a Woods corner, Flannery nodded over the top.
Undeterred by the clock ticking down, Victory kept pushing and, on another day, Jančevski’s drive would have snuck in.
Match details
Brisbane Roar 2 (AGNEW 36′, MARKOVSKI 45+3′)
Melbourne Victory 0
Brisbane Roar starting XI: 1. Chloe LINCOLN (GK), 2. Annabel MARTIN, 5. Isabel HODGSON, 7. Murphy AGNEW (24. Emily ROACH 90+2), 14. Zara KRUGER, 15. Hali LONG, 17. Maja MARKOVSKI (3. Daisy BROWN 57′), 19. Lily PUNCH (16. Abigail SMOTHERS 73′), 21. Katrina GUILLOU, 22. Natalie TATHEM (C) (4. Kijah STEPHENSON 57′), 27. Rosie CURTIS.
Substitutes not used: 12. Tahlia FRANCO (GK), 18. Amali KINSELLA, 23. Isabela HOYOS.
Booking: None.
Melbourne Victory starting XI: 25. Ayana AOYAGI (GK), 16. Anna SUTTER, 19. Zoe MCMEEKEN (7. Ella O’GRADY 46′), 3. Claudia BUNGE, 18. Kayla MORRISON (C), 13. Angie BEARD, 2. Skye LEACH (66. Alana JANČEVSKI 46′), 14. Alicia WOODS, 9. Holly FURPHY, 10. Sienna SAVESKA (28. Sienna TECHERA 80′), 8. Sophie HARDING (11. Nicki FLANNERY 62′).
Substitutes not used: 30. Chloe MCKENZIE (GK), 4. Chelsea BLISSETT, 20. Leyla HUSSEIN.
Booking: SAVESKA 77′.
