Hayley Raso adjusting to return home

While she may have swapped the green ribbons for the orange, it is business as usual for Brisbane Roar and Matildas striker Hayley Raso.

On Sunday the fleet footed forward was substituted into the match against the Western Sydney Wanderers and she quite literally changed the game.

What had been a relatively untroubled Wanderers backline was one suddenly in chaos.  Such is the impact of "Ribbons" Raso.

With her assistance, and the red hot Katrina Gorry, the Roar turned around a 0 – 1 half time deficit into a comfortable 4 – 1 win.

Along the way Raso netted her first goal in the orange ribbon.  The goal and the win was made extra special with her family watching in the Marconi Stadium grand stands.

"Yeah it's an amazing feeling," said Raso speaking to TWG at the conclusion of the match.

"I came off the bench so to get a goal early on was really great."

Since bursting onto the scene three seasons ago, the 19 year old has slowly built a reputation as one of the most dangerous up and coming strikers in country.  Not that that held much weight when she returned home to her native Queensland to play for the Roar.

Despite having a Championship medal in her cabinet and leading the Canberra United attack in Season Five, at the two time champions Raso has found herself having to once again earn a position in the starting line up of a Matildas studded squad.  It is a sign of her maturity that she has not wallowed but relished the challenge.

"It is tough always coming off the bench and trying to get into the game as the other girls have been running around," she said.

"But I do enjoy coming on and giving my best so that is what I try and do."

2013 has been another big year for Raso in a career that continues to produce highs.  At the conclusion of the W-League she spent the next couple of months with the Young Matildas as they attempted to qualify for the 2014 FIFA U20 Women's World Cup.

While the quest ended in disappointment, Raso was one of the stand out players and was rewarded with a call up to Hesterine de Reus' Matildas squad for the recent two match series against China.

18 months after making her international debut, Raso was back in the nation team squad and it was no less exciting for having been there before.

"That was amazing," Raso exclaimed. "I wasn't really expecting it [the call up]."

"It's still just as exciting, especially when you are not expecting it so just having that experience and training with those quality players has been good for me."

Again coming off the bench, Raso did what she is becoming synonymous with, unsettling the defence.  While she was only afforded minimal game time, the experience has once again whetted her appetite for international football.  However, for now, the aim is to assist Brisbane to their third championship.

An objective that did not get off to the best start but which the Roar, which their back to back wins, have worked hard to correct and get back on track.

"We have gone out to training, worked hard and tried to get everything right so we can come out do what we do."

"We have the team and players to win [the Championship] but it will be tough with the other teams in the W-League."

With her recent performances it would be difficult to not see Hayley Raso as a big part of Roar's assault on the 2013/14 Championship.