Brisbane Roar flipped the script when it mattered most, riding a relentless second-half surge to secure a 2-1 win over Wellington Phoenix in the first leg of their 2026 A-League Women semi-final at Imperial Corp Stadium (aka Spencer Park).
For a brief moment, it looked like Wellington had landed the early blow that could define the tie. Inside two minutes, Grace Jale rose cleanly above the pack to power home a header from a corner, stunning the home crowd and handing the Phoenix a dream start.
The visitors nearly doubled down just as quickly. Makala Woods burst through with only the keeper to beat but rattled the post, before another aerial chance drifted wide. It was a sequence that would linger — a missed chance to put real daylight between the sides.
Brisbane steadied, then struck back in kind. From a set piece of their own, Momo Hayashi timed her run from deep and met the delivery with force, her header crashing into the net to level the contest. From there, the balance of the game began to tilt.
Roar turn the screws
The second half belonged to Brisbane.
Forced into an early reshuffle after a defensive injury, the Roar adapted on the fly and grew into the contest with increasing authority. Their pressure built steadily — wave after wave pushing Wellington deeper, forcing errors, and testing goalkeeper Vic Esson.
The numbers told the story. Brisbane finished with 18 shots, eight on target, dwarfing Wellington’s five attempts.
The breakthrough felt inevitable.
It came through persistence rather than polish. A scramble in the box wasn’t dealt with cleanly, the ball broke loose, and teenage striker Daisy Brown reacted quickest — snapping it into the net to give Brisbane the lead and ignite the home crowd.
From there, the Roar controlled territory and tempo, closing out the match with composure while continuing to threaten.
Phoenix show promise, but pay the price
Wellington’s start was sharp, aggressive and purposeful — exactly the kind of football they’ll need again in the return leg.
But after that early burst, they struggled to maintain control. Brisbane’s midfield pressure disrupted their rhythm, and the Phoenix found it difficult to create sustained attacking phases.
Defensively, they held on for long stretches under pressure, but the volume of Brisbane’s attacks eventually broke through.
Still, the tie remains finely poised.
All eyes on Porirua
A one-goal margin leaves everything to play for.
Wellington now returns home to Porirua Park, where a fast start could quickly swing momentum back in their favour. The belief is there — and so is the blueprint from those opening minutes in Brisbane.
For the Roar, the message is clear: don’t protect the lead — extend it. Their second-half dominance showed what they’re capable of when they dictate terms.
Ninety minutes down. Ninety to go.
And with a Grand Final spot on the line, this semi-final is far from settled.
Published 3-May-2026
