It was a bittersweet victory for Canberra United as they secured a 1-0 win over the Brisbane Roar for their first three points of the season but Canberra are waiting scans to forward Jasmyne Spencer after she was injured.

It was a game that could have gone either way, and while Canberra capitalised on their chances in front of goal, Brisbane on the other hand had a bit more trouble.

Both teams’ games plans did not go to plan but there are positives each side will take into next week matches.

Brisbane Roar - Key Points and Players

It was not for a lack of trying for Brisbane Roar as they had chance after chance in the opening exchanges on Sunday afternoon.

Midfielder Tameka Butt had the best opportunity of the first half for Brisbane as she slipped her way through the Canberra defence and forced Canberra goalkeeper, Trudy Burke to palm the ball over the crossbar.

Katrina Gorry was once again instrumental in getting the balls from the midfield to the attacking line. The return of Butt has only boasted the midfield allowing for more scoring opportunities from the team.

After halftime the Roar were in first gear, which resulted in a lack of concentration at the back and a multitude of chances from the team in green.

But that all changed in the last quarter of an hour when Brisbane had chances from all areas of the field with substitute Allira Toby having the best chance to equaliser with a one-on-one chance with Burke.

“We created some really good chances, one on one with the keeper, and we will keep working on it so we can finish those chances,” Brisbane Roar coach Melissa Andreatta said.

“We were disappointed but were not disappointed with our effort, were not disappointed with our intent.”

Talking point

Brisbane had a number of chances to level the game but poor finishing and lack of composure in front goal saw Canberra claim the three points.

Canberra United - Key Points and Players

Canberra United’s opening minutes were probably not meant to go the way they did, as they struggled to get the ball out of their own half.

However, halfway through the first half they found their feet and were able to pressure the Brisbane Roar defence time and time again.

Ashleigh Sykes and Jasmyne Spencer were dangerous as they weaved their way through the Roar defence but a crunching challenge from Brisbane captain, Clare Polkinghorne saw Spencer being carried from the field with an ankle injury.

Trudy Burke was just phenomenal between the posts; she was a brick wall and was the reason why the Roar did not score late in the second half.  

“The three points is what we came for and Brisbane gave us what we expected and some as we they would,” Canberra United coach Rae Dower said.

“Both of us probably didn’t play the level of football that were capable of, both teams probably didn’t execute their own games as well as they would’ve liked and certainly for us that’s the case,” she said.

Talking point

Canberra took their foot off the pedal in the last 20 minutes, which opened the game for Brisbane Roar and it could’ve been a very different outcome if Burke was not having a game of a lifetime.

What’s next?

Brisbane Roar will travel to western Sydney looking for a win as they take on the Western Sydney Wanderers, while Canberra United take on top of the table leaders Neecastle Jets at home.

Match Details

Brisbane Roar 0

Canberra United 1 (Sykes 54’)

Sunday 20 November 2016

AJ Kelly Park, Kippa-Ring

Kick-off: 4pm (AEST) 

Brisbane Roar FC: 1.Mackenzie ARNOLD (gk), 2.Nina FRAUSING-PEDERSEN, 3.Amy CHAPMAN (Brooke SPENCE 77’), 4.Clare POLKINGHORNE (c), 6.Angela BEARD, 10.Katrina GORRY, 11.Maili FORBES (Allira TOBY 64’), 13.Tameka BUTT, 14.Summer O’BRIEN, 17.Emily GIELNIK (Sunny FRANCO 46’), 18.Maddy EVANS,

Unused substitutes: 20.Georgina WORTH (gk)

Yellow cards: Katrina Gorry 38’, Summer O’Brien 47’

Red cards: NIL

Canberra United: 1.Trudy BURKE (gk), 2.Yukari KINGA, 5.Jenna McCORMICK, 7.Ellie BRUSH, 8.Hayley RASO, 9.Jasmyne SPENCER (Grace MAHER 46’,) 11.Michelle HEYMAN, 12.Hannah BREWER, 13.Celeste BOUREILLE, 14.Ashley SYKES, 22.Stephanie OCHS (Nickoletta FLANNERY 89’)

Unused substitutes: 4. Clare HUNT, 20.Georgia BORIC (gk)

Yellow cards: NIL

Red cards: NIL