The Western Sydney Wanderers’ quest for a place in the Westfield W-League finals has taken a blow after a 3-0 loss to Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
A Tameka Butt hat-trick handed the Roar all three points, leaving the Wanderers now four points adrfit of the top four with just three rounds remaining.
The Roar put the Wanderers defence to the test in the first six minutes with Butt opening the scoring with a quick-fire double.
An early collision between keeper Jada Whyman and Brisbane’s Angela Beard momentarily paused the match with both players thankfully getting to their feet.
Soon after, the Roar were close to extending their lead with an Emily Glienek shot from close range hitting the top-right corner of the post.
Brisbane controlled the tempo and the pace for majority of the first half with the Wanderers struggling to find their feet at Suncorp.
The Red & Black’s first notable chance of the half came through Helen Petinos trying her luck from outside the box, only for it to find the arms of keeper Mackenzie Arnold.
Wanderers striker Katie Stengel went close at the end of the half, her shot skimmming wide.
The Wanderers returned to the pitch much more confident and in control with Stengel only taking a matter of minutes to force Arnold into a gravity-defying save that saw her tip the ball into the cross bar.
The half saw the two sides relatively even with both having chances to add to the scoreboard.
However it was the Roar who would find the net next, as Tameka Butt tapped home from close range to seal the three points for the home side.
The Wanderers will now look to bounce back next week away to Adelaide United on Saturday at 8:00pm.
