Brisbane close the gap on the ladder leaders | (Credit: Getty Images) Brisbane close the gap on the ladder leaders | (Credit: Getty Images)

Brisbane Roar defeated a valiant Adelaide United 2-0 at the Sunshine Coast in the Westfield W-League on Saturday.

The hosts at Stockland Park opened the scoring through midfielder Aivi Luik, whose low strike into the bottom left corner put the hosts ahead on six minutes.

Luik completed some fine Brisbane passing after a corner delivered by Catherine Cannuli, before Laura Alleway laid off to the goalscorer who struck well enough to beat Adelaide shot-stopper Sian McLaren.

Substitute Emily Gielnik ensured Brisbane claimed the three points late, firing home the sealer in the first minute of injury time.

There was little McLaren could do about the opening goal, but she pulled off one of the saves of the W-League season 10 minutes later, denying Jo Burgess' close-range bullet header as she parried the ball onto the crossbar and away to safety.

Despite their early dominance, Brisbane could not find the scoresheet again in the opening 45 minutes, and Adelaide edged their way into the contest as the Roar conceded possession too easily on several occasions.

Striker Marijana Rajcic wasted Adelaide's best chance of the first half, however, as she ran through on goal in the 33rd minute, but fired a speculative chip shot that sailed over Brisbane keeper Casey Dumont's bar.

The Reds had a penalty appeal waved away eight minutes after the interval, when Rajcic looked to have been nudged to the ground.

And, the game then opened right up as Brisbane looked for a second goal to seal the result.

Adelaide goalkeeper McLaren kept her side in the contest on multiple occasions, pulling off breathtaking saves when one-on-one with Brisbane goal sneak Tameka Butt.

Reds defender Anna Green provided Rajcic with a gilt-edged chance to equalise, drilling a long cross in from the left, which only just drifted out of reach of the striker, and away to safety for Brisbane.

The Roar pushed hard to seal the three points with a goal, and Gielnik provided just that with an injury-time goal, after captain Clare Polkinghorne provided the vital through ball.

Brisbane moved into second spot on the table with the win, however Sydney - the team they climbed above - were still to play league leaders Canberra on Saturday.

Adelaide's loss ensured they are still without a point through seven games this season, but their performance showed plenty of promise for Reds manager Dave Edmondson.

Brisbane Roar 2 (Aivi Luik 6’, Emily Gielnik 90’+1)

Adelaide United 0

Saturday 10 December 2011

Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast

Local kick-off: 2pm

Referee: Rebecca Durcau / AR1: Rachel Mitchensen / AR2: Broole Staff / 4th Official: Christie Robb

Brisbane Roar: Casey DUMONT (gk), Laura ALLEWAY (Olga CEBRIAN-GRACIA 72’), Clare POLKINGHORNE, Brooke SPENCE, Joanne BURGESS (Sasha McDONNELL 82’), Kim CARROLL, Catherine CANNULI (Emily GIELNIK 87’), Lana HARCH, Aivi LUIK, Tameka BUTT, Vedrana POPOVIC

Substitutes not used: Hoshimi KISHI (gk)

Yellow cards: Catherine Canulli 87’

Red cards: Nil

Adelaide United: Sian McLAREN (gk), Ashleigh GUNNING, Anna GREEN, Abby ERCEG, Racheal QUIGLEY, Leanne SLATER (Ebony PHILCOX 80’), Marijana RAJCIC (Georgia MACRI 80’), Donna COCKAYNE, Emma CHECKER, Grace HENRY Katherine EBBS (Daniela DI BARTOLO 83’)

Substitutes not used: Kristi HARVEY (gk)

Yellow Cards: Ashleigh Gunning 30’

Red Cards: Nil