In front an excellent crowd of 1556, the Sky Blues earned the three points thanks to a Caitlin Foord hat-trick, with the other goals coming from Teresa Polias and Princess Ibini. Japanese import Yuki Nagasoto got the only goal for Brisbane.

After some early close calls where Foord hit the crossbar and Carson Pickett was required to clear the ball off the goalline, Sydney took the lead with a quarter of an hour played. Savannah McCaskill was the architect, playing an excellent through ball for Foord, who slipped the ball past Mackenzie Arnold for her third goal of the season.

However, despite Sydney’s fast start, Brisbane equalised in the 25th minute. Allira Toby played a wonderful first time pass for Nagasoto, who coolly rounded Sydney goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe before finding the empty net.

Sydney then reasserted their dominance but didn’t retake the lead until just before the hour mark. Princess Ibini made an immediate impact after being subbed on, finding space on the right wing and cutting the ball back for Polias, who blasted it into the top corner from the edge of the box for only her second W-League goal.

Brisbane responded, and Chioma Ubogagu got on the end of a searching pass from Nagasoto, rifling a left-footed shot against the post.

However, Sydney were in the mood and doubled their lead midway through the second half. Danielle Colaprico played the ball into the path of Foord, who made no mistake with the one on one opportunity.

The game was then put to bed a few minutes later as the Sky Blues made it 4-1. This time it was Ibini who got the goal that her play had deserved, finishing from close range off Sofia Huerta’s cross.

With seven minutes left, Sydney rounded off the scoring, and another substitute, Taylor Ray, was involved. The Young Matilda did well to find Foord in the box, and she made no mistake to complete her hat trick.

After the game, Sydney coach Ante Juric paid credit to Ralston and McCaskill.

“Liz today, was huge. She was probably top two (out of our players) last year. I actually think she’s an exceptional player for us, and she’d be close to the Matildas in my book. She was great, first game back, she hadn’t played for a long time, to play the way she did is outstanding.”

On McCaskill, Juric said, “She’s very creative. I thought I’d use Chloe (Logarzo) wide a bit more, Sav in the middle was very creative for us and Caitlin Foord could run off her.”

The result leaves Brisbane in sixth, while Sydney move up to seventh. Next week Sydney are at home to Adelaide on Thursday night at Cromer Park, while Brisbane host league leaders Melbourne Victory on Sunday afternoon at Lions Stadium.