Melbourne Victory fell to a 4-2 loss to Brisbane Roar in the Liberty A-League on Sunday.
Summary
Victory held a two-goal lead at the break at AAMI Park following a Jessie Rasschaert own goal and Lynn Williams effort.
Larissa Crummer pulled a goal back for Brisbane just before the hour-mark, and a harsh red card to Kyra Cooney-Cross turned the game.
Katrina Gorry, Shea Connors and Ayesha Norrie scored late on for Brisbane.
Victory took a fortunate sixth-minute lead.
A heavily hit back pass from Rasschaert aimed at her goalkeeper was misplaced and found the back of the net.
At the other end, Victory needed an excellent save from Melissa Maizels, who was making her first league appearance for the Club.
Maizels saved with her feet to deny Crummer in a one-on-one in the ninth minute and keep Victory ahead.
Victory midfielder MelindaJ Barbieri threatened midway through the first half, taking a nice touch before unleashing a strike from 25 yards that was well saved by Roar goalkeeper Mia Bailey.
But Victory would double the lead in the 26th minute following a corner.
Brisbane was unable to deal with Amy Jackson’s in-swinging delivery, with a goal awarded following a touch from Williams – and before Courtney Nevin swept in a finish.
The visitor pulled a goal back just before the hour-mark, Crummer tapping in after Maizels parried a long-range effort from Gorry.
Victory’s two-goal lead was almost restored by Catherine Zimmerman, but the forward’s effort was well saved by Bailey.
Just as Victory seemed in control, Cooney-Cross was sent off for a sliding challenge on Crummer in the 69th minute.
Gorry equalised for Brisbane with four minutes remaining, with a long-range strike.
Roar made the most of its numerical advantage late on.
Connors got on the end of a Natalie Tathem cross to score before Norrie tucked away a late sealer.
Key moment
What they said – Williams
on the loss and Cooney-Cross’ red card…
“I don’t think it is everything that has cost us today. We definitely need to be more organised. We have to take that on and say that was our responsibility, but at the end of the day I think the red switches the game, switches the momentum and I think it’s a harsh red. That’s my opinion.”
Player in focus
Williams scored her third goal in four games this season on what was a forgettable afternoon for Victory.
Implications
Victory’s second straight loss left it in third on the table, four points behind league leader Sydney FC.
Result
Liberty A-League 2021/22 Round 5
Melbourne Victory 2 (Jessie Rasschaert 6′ og, Lynn Williams 26′)
Brisbane Roar 4 (Larissa Crummer 59′, Katrina Gorry 86′, Shea Connors 90′, Ayesha Norrie 90+6′)
Melbourne Victory: Maizels (gk); Doran, Bunge, Jackson, Nevin; Murphy (Robers 84′), Cooney-Cross; Privitelli (c) (Withers 68′), Barbieri (Markovski 90+3′), Williams; Zimmerman.
Brisbane Roar: Bailey (gk); Margraf (Tathem 87′), Rasschaert, Haffenden, Rankin; Norrie (c); McDougall (Clough 54′), Gorry (Kitano 90+1′), Hecher, Connors; Crummer.
Yellow cards: Zimmerman 85′
Red cards: Cooney-Cross 69′
Attendance: TBA
Venue: AAMI Park
Next up
Victory’s season continues with a trip to Newcastle to face the Jets on Friday, January 7.
