3-0 LOSS IN REAR VIEW MIRROR

A week ago the storyline was the dismal start Melbourne Victory had to their W-League season.

They were thought to have one of the top offences and yet there were held scoreless in their opener.

Victory could get nothing going and it seemed like their woes would take a while to correct. However, in their first road contest of the season Victory seem to have found their stride. 

The first goal of the year for Victory may have come at the hands of a Brisbane Roar own goal but there was no denying their offensive urgency in the early minutes.

The beginning of the game looked a lot like Victory was trying to avenge last week’s 3-0 loss. They were playing high tempo offence spraying the ball into their final third often. Victory’s attack was rewarded with two goals within the first 14 minutes of play. A stark contrast to a week ago when they looked outmatched at just about every position. 

Their midfield controlled the ball better and were able to find Natasha Dowie and company showing their adjustments from game one.

Melbourne Victory was not able to sustain the constant pressure all match thanks in large part to Brisbane’s own urgency to get out of their own goal deficit. 

OPENING MISTAKES COST ROAR

An opening round bye does allow a club an extra week of preseason, but while you’re practicing everyone else is getting 90 minutes of play under their belt. Based on the first 15-20 minutes in this match Brisbane may be wishing their opening game was a week ago like the rest of the league.

The offencive urgency from Melbourne Victory was combated with a jittery Brisbane Roar. If the Roar could have eliminated the opening minutes of the game then the result may have gone in their favor.

When they finally settled into the game they looked impressive and going toe-to-toe with Victory for the majority of the match. Brisbane was even able to net a goal in the first 25 minutes from a beautiful combination play from the team’s star Matildas.

Then late in the first half their offence was rewarded with a penalty, but Tameka Yallop was unable to convert from the spot to add to her first goal.

Brisbane led the game with all of the offensive stats including shots, shots on goal and possession. But if you cannot convert those chances into goals then none of those stats matter.

They may have not gotten the win tonight, but if they can build upon their performance Brisbane will be a dangerous team this year.

The first game of the season is expected to bring nerves, but if Brisbane could have had their first game last week like everyone else just think what this game could have been.

CASEY DUMONT TAKE A BOW

When a goalkeeper gives up two goals in a game it hardly seems like their best performance. But if not for Casey Dumont’s stellar play for Melbourne Victory they would be on the losing end tonight.

Last week Dumont let in three goals off of seven shots on target giving the goalkeeper some corrections to make in between games.

She was able to do just that and be one of the top players on the pitch for this game. 

Brisbane was no slouch and provided plenty of pressure on Dumont and the rest of Victory’s defence. 

The Roar put up 10 shots on goal with Dumont denying eight of them. One of the biggest shots she stopped had to be the penalty in the 42nd minute. 

At the time, Victory was only up 2-1 and Brisbane looked poised to find the equaliser and even get the momentum in their favor. But when Yallop stepped up to take the penalty for Brisbane, Dumont looked like she was going to stop the shot no matter what.

Over and over Dumont made saves from point blank range, lobs into the penalty area and shots from outside the 18 yard box. Throughout the game she was putting her body on the line with a win at all costs mentality. 

If Victory are going to be a top team this year then they will need Dumont to step up and make saves against quality offences. 

Dumont showed tonight she is a player Victory can rely on time and time again.

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PLUS...

'I should have done that last week!' Dumont brilliance seals Victory thriller

Casey Dumont was elated with her own stunning performance and the "individual brilliance" shown by Melbourne Victory's key stars in their 3-2 win against Brisbane Roar.