Roar beat Sky Blues, City snatch tough ALW derby win

Brisbane players were jumping for joy after Chelsea Blissett's goal for the Roar against Sydney FC. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

Brisbane defender Chelsea Blissett has repeated her heroics against Sydney FC to condemn the reigning A-League Women champions to two straight defeats.

A year on from clinching a 1-0 victory in the same fixture, Blissett again scored the only goal at Perry Park to knock over the competition heavyweights.

Also on Saturday, Mariana Speckmaier scored a brace as Melbourne City outmuscled Melbourne Victory to claim a 3-2 win and underline their credentials as title fancies.

The Roar got on the front foot before the main break when Blissett netted in added time. 

With the hosts earning a free kick after Sydney’s Tori Tumeth fouled Evdokiya Popadinova on the left wing, Blissett went for home and the ball ricocheted frenetically before deflecting off Hana Lowry into the net.

Shea Connors and substitute Princess Ibini worked overtime in the second half to salvage a draw for Sydney, but their efforts found no reward as Matildas veteran Tameka Yallop dominated for Brisbane.

A potential injury to recruit Millie Farrow only adds to the Sky Blues' woes.

The Englishwoman appeared to have suffered a hamstring injury in the 40th minute after tumbling over opposition goalkeeper Olivia Sekany while attempting to goal.

Farrow tried to play on but went to ground two minutes later and was eventually replaced by Ibini.

Millie Farrow (left) collides with Roar goalkeeper Olivia Sekany.
Sydney FC's Millie Farrow (left) collides with Roar goalkeeper Olivia Sekany.

City are outright top of the league after coming back from 2-1 down to grab bragging rights over local rivals Victory at AAMI Park.

In a physical and occasionally spiteful clash, Victory star Alex Chidiac was among those fouled multiple times.

"I don't know what it is. She gets no protection out there," Victory coach Jeff Hopkins said of Chidiac. 

"She gets absolutely smashed, like hit off the ball. It's very disappointing."

City counterpart Michael Matricciani insisted Chidiac hadn't been a deliberate target, while Hopkins was generally unhappy with his team's physicality compared with that of their rivals.

"Apart from maybe three or four players, they were physically, not better than us, but more determined," Hopkins said.

"For want of a better word, they were up for it and wanted it more than we did. That's just not acceptable. Basic errors cost us."

City took the lead in the sixth minute after Lourdes Bosch went on a tantalising run down the left before squaring the ball for Speckmaier to toe-poke home.

City's Mariana Speckmaier (right).
Mariana Speckmaier (right) scored a brace in City's 3-2 Melbourne derby win over Victory.

But Victory equalised in the 20th minute after Bryleeh Henry clipped Emily Gielnik, with the striker converting. 

Victory took the lead in the 42nd minute after Chidiac released Nicki Flannery, whose excellent cut-back was met first-time by Alana Jancevski.

A horror mistake at the back brought City level.

Under minimal pressure, Claudia Bunge hit a shallow backpass towards Courtney Newbon and Bosch nipped in to pinch the ball away and score.

For City's winner in the 84th minute, Leticia McKenna brilliantly released Speckmaier to burst away and clinically finish.

Gielnik finished the game with ice on her left calf, but Hopkins said she had just cramped.

Victory are still without first-choice goalkeeper Lydia Williams, who will have further assessment on a wrist injury.

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store