Brisbane have stunned Melbourne Victory 2-1 to kick off their A-League Women campaign in sensational style while Adelaide United drew with Canberra United .
In a dramatic day of action, Emilia Murray snatched a late equaliser to salvage Adelaide United a 4-4 draw against Canberra United and New Zealand striker Hannah Wilkinson scored the winner as Melbourne City fought out a 1-0 victory over Wellington.
The Roar, without Matildas midfielder Tameka Yallop headed to the ‘Home of the Matildas’ on Sunday as heavy underdogs against powerhouse Victory.
But 16-year-old striker Grace Kuilamu gave the visitors the lead against the run of play in the 49th minute, finishing off a superb run and cross from Sharn Freier.
Victory thought they’d equalised in the 59th minute when McKenzie Weinert scored a wonderful individual goal, but it was chalked off for offside.
Roar skipper Jenna McCormick doubled their lead when she headed home Hollie Palmer’s free kick in the 70th.
Ella O’Grady snagged a consolation goal for Victory in added time.
At Coopers Stadium, Murray’s deflected strike in the 94th minute capped off a chaotic match that included three penalties.
Canberra star Vesna Milivojevic scored a brace and had the ball in the back of the net in the 97th minute, for what would have been a hat-trick winner – only to be ruled offside.
Adelaide took the lead in the ninth minute via Alana Jancevski’s penalty.
The visitors responded when Milivojevic forced a turnover from Grove, before coolly scoring into an empty net.
Michelle Heyman gave Canberra the lead when she pounced on a horror error from Grove., who let the ball go over her head then was beaten to it by Heyman.
Mariah Lee restored Adelaide’s lead from the penalty spot in the 53rd minute, but Nicki Flannery made it 3-3 with a spot kick nine minutes later.
Milivojevic appeared to have scored the winner when she cleverly trapped a Holly Murray long ball then scored from close range.
But Murray had the final say when she snatched at a chance just inside the box and it took a fortuitous deflection off Emma Ilijoski and nestled in the back of the net.
In awfully windy conditions at Sky Stadium, hosts Wellington took it up to City and were only beaten by Wilkinson’s 73rd-minute tap-in.
Matildas winger Holly McNamara gave the Phoenix defence nightmares all game but left her shooting boots at home.
City scored when Rhianna Pollicina forced a save from Rylee Foster but she could only parry it and a switched-on Wilkinson pounced to tap home.
By Anna Harrington in Melbourne
