Roar keep W-League pics2008 best

Melbourne Victory head into the 2010 season with a new coach and new hopes of making the finals series for the first time.Print Email ShareOn a very warm day in Victoria a ‘new look this year’ Melbourne Victory, took on Brisbane Roar at AAMI Park. With a different formation Brisbane looked a changed side from the largely uninspiring side that came out last week.
In the 23rd minute starting from the Keeper Casey Dumont the ball was played wide to Clare Polkinghorne and then centered to find an on-coming Tameka Butt. With just a hint of handball Tameka controlled the ball, did the shimmie shimmie, passed two defenders in the 18yd box and calmly and coolly slot home the first goal far post.
Just two minutes later, again using the wide channels Elise Kellond-Knight crossed another nice ball which was touched-on by Lana Harch finding Tameka Butt who controlled and slotted home her second goal. For the rest of the half it was all Brisbane who should have scored more.

The second half saw the exit of quite possibly Melbourne’s main attacking weapon in UK import Jodie Taylor. So it was a bit ominous for Melbourne but such as soccer is Melbourne scored next thanks to a defensive error in a poor back pass by the Roar. Caitlin Friend who showed no mercy latched onto the loose ball, rounded Dumont and finished with a goal in the 65th minute.
Caitlin’s goal made the play just before even more telling when Tameka Butt missed a sitter in front of goal which would have been her hat-trick with nice ball feeding again by Elise Kellond-Knight. Lisa De Vanna came on in the 59th minute and 12 minutes later a long ball by Kim Carroll found Lisa way past the defense for the second week in a row and with her great composure placed the ball past Matilda Goalkeeper Melisa Barbieri.
In the 81st minute Lisa then unselfishly played a ball to the young Emily Gielnik who still had some work to do before she cracked a great finish to the back of the net. Numerous opportunities abounded for Brisbane to make the margin even larger if it but for some poor finishing. Melbourne did have a good last ditch effort by Mastrantonio in the 89th minute with a long range dipping shot that hit the crossbar.
t ended in a 4-1 win to the Brisbane Roar which by virtue of a Sydney FC bye shuffles them up to top place on the W-league table.This week Brisbane looked good, better than they have been all year. With a slightly different setup they kept good shape. A criticism from last week of not using the wide channels was corrected this week and predominately this is how they by-passed Melbourne’s defense and controlled the game.The Roar stayed relaxed with the ball at their feet and constantly played back and switched play when under any pressure. This was much better professional play by the girls; properly utilising the wide channels and stretching the opposition’s defense. Unfortunately for Melbourne they were out gunned by a better side. Their youth and inexperience did come through and they didn’t have the style of play of Brisbane’s. Best for Brisbane were Tameka Butt, Elise Kellond-Knight and Jo Burgess. For Melbourne, U.S import Kendall Fletcher, Mastrantonio and Veljanovska.Don’t forget to regulary check our W-League page for everything in the women’s game and a weekly player diary from Brisbane Roar Captain, Clare Polkinghorne. Also Have a read of our interview with prolific Roar striker Lisa De Vanna and Matildas Coach Tom Sermanni.
Roar keep W-League top spotPosted Sat Nov 7, 2009 10:00pm AEDT
Roar goalscorer Elise Kellond-Knight holds off Jennifer Bisset.Roar goalscorer Elise Kellond-Knight holds off Jennifer Bisset. (Getty Images: Stefan Postles)
* Map: Canberra 2600
Brisbane's reign at the peak of the W-League continued with a 2-1 victory over grand final rivals Canberra United at McKellar Park on Saturday.
The defending champions kept a three-point buffer to the second placed Mariners thanks to a 74th-minute winner by Elise Kellong-Knights.Joanne Burgess had given the Roar the lead after only five minutes before Cian Maciejewski equalised for Canberra 13 minutes after the restart.Central Coast stayed within a game of the undefeated Brisbane with a 2-1 road win over Perth at Clipsal Stadium in Inglewood.Lydia Vandenbergh and Michelle Heyman had the Mariners in front with goals either side of the break before Marianna Tabain pulled one back for the Glory just past the hour mark.In other round six matches, Sydney rescued a dramatic point against Melbourne in Shepparton with a goal from Michelle Carney five minutes into injury time.The Victory's Julianne Sitch opened the scoring in the 62nd minute before Sydney kept a hold on third spot from Melbourne with the late leveller.In the battle of the two winless bottom clubs, Adelaide and Newcastle played out an entertaining 3-3 draw at Wanderers Oval.The Reds had not scored a goal all season but managed to bag three in the first 57 minutes thanks to Tenneille Boaler and a double from Racheal Quigley.But it was not enough to secure a first victory, with a 79th minute goal from Renee Cartwright giving the Jets a share of the points.
Inagural coach Matt Shepherd and Victory parted ways earlier in the year and the club soon after appointed new coach Vicki Linton.Linton is a FIFA Coach educator and has spent time working in Asia and Oceania to work with coaches in developing countries, she was also Assistant Coach at the NSW Institute of Sport and the Women’s football coach at the Tasmania Institute of Sport. Linton was also involved with the Australian U-17’s and U-20’s women national team.The club can boast one of the most experienced squads in the league and has a great mix of youngsters. Led by Matildas’ captain Melissa Barbieri, who has 69 caps for the national team and captained the squad that won the AFC Asian Cup during the offseason. In front of Barbieri will be experienced campaigners Maika Ruyter-Hooley and former New Zealand international Marlie Oostdam. The club also named English midfielder Louisa Bisby and American international Kendall Fletcher in the squad amongst their most prized acquisitions. Vicki Linton was also happy to name U-17 Young Matildas Stephanie Catley, Caitlin Friend, Ashley Brown and Brianna Davey.2010/2011 Westfield W-League Melbourne Victory squad:
1. Melissa BARBIERI
2. Rita MANKOWSKA
3. Marlies OOSTDAM
5. Louisa BISBY
6. Maika RUYTER-HOOLEY
7. Snez VELJANOVSKA
8. Ella MASTRANTONIO
9. Stephanie CATLEY
10. Jodie TAYLOR
11. Kendall FLETCHER
12. Amy JACKSON
13. Ashley BROWN
15. Deanna NICESKI
16. Gulcan KOCA
17. Caitlin FRIEND
18. Ursula HUGHSON
19. Enza BARILLA20. Brianna DAThe third season of the Westfield W-League kicks off this weekend and although Melbourne Victory have a bye, we’ll preview the 2010 Melbourne Victory W-League team.The 7 teams – Adelaide United, Brisbane Roar, Canberra United, Melbourne Victory, Newcastle Jets, Perth Glory and Sydney FC – play each other twice in a round-robin type tournament. Due to the Central Coast Mariners not presenting a team this year all clubs will have two byes in the 12 round tournament.
At the conclusion of the 12 games the top 4 teams qualify for the finals series where teams play each other according to their finishing position. As indicated below.