Brisbane Roar suffered a 3-2 defeat against Central Coast Mariners in New Years Eve Ninja A-League action at Polytec Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
Goals from Grace Kuilamu and Sharn Freier proved to be in vain as an Annalise Rasmussen brace along with a strike from Isabella Coco-di Sipio sealed the points for the defending Champions in Wednesday’s Round 10 clash
Mariners opened the scoring in the third minute when Coco-di Sipio bundled home a finish after Chloe Lincoln could only parry the forward’s initial effort.
Kuilamu levelled the scores in the 13th minute when she pounced on a rebound to net her third goal of the season after Kiera Meyers beat her marker and forced a strong save with a strike from the edge of the area.
Five minutes later Roar produced another fruitful attack down the right with Ashlyn Miller’s pinpoint cross finding Freier at the back post to head home the visitors second of the afternoon.
The hosts snatched an equaliser in the ninth minute of first half stoppage time when Rasmussen capitalised on a defensive slip to turn home an Annabel Martin free-kick at the back post.
Rasmussen grabbed her the second of the afternoon in the 55th minute when she got in behind the Roar defence and finished one-on-one for what proved to be the match winner.
Despite a late push, Roar were unable to find an equaliser with Wednesday’s result leaving Roar in 7th position on the Ninja A-League ladder.
Alex Smith’s side kick off the new year against Wellington Phoenix in a double header at Kayo Stadium on Saturday January, 3. Get your tickets HERE
MATCH DETAILS
Ninja A-League Women 25/26 – Round 10: Central Coast Mariners v Brisbane Roar
Polytec Stadium, Gosford
Wednesday, 31 December
Central Coast Mariners – 3 (Isabella COCO-DI SIPIO 3’, Annalise RASMUSSEN 45+9’ 55’)
Brisbane Roar – 2 (Grace KUILAMU 13’, Sharn FREIER 18’)