AAP Soccer

Matilda's goal not enough for City as Roar strike late

Jan 20, 2026

Holly McNamara. — Holly McNamara's goal was not enough to give Melbourne City all three points against Brisbane. -AAP Image

Brisbane Roar have shocked A-League Women powerhouse Melbourne City, scoring a late goal to seal a 1-1 draw at home.

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Holly McNamara's 42nd-minute penalty goal wasn't enough to seal the deal for the league leaders at Spencer Park, with Ashlyn Miller striking back for the Roar on Tuesday night.

It was a dashing run from rising Matildas star McNamara, cut short by a tackle from Brisbane centre-back Leia Varley, that opened the door for the hosts to salvage a point.

Varley kept the momentum going to start a chain down to Miller, who unleashed a sensational kick from outside the box to beat the gloves of goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln in the 87th minute.

City were given seven minutes to restore order, but no one could find the match-winner.

Now boasting a four-game undefeated streak, the eighth-placed Roar (4-3-3) are just one point adrift from the top six.

Brisbane drew with City despite taking just five shots to the visitors' 11 attempts.

City, who were eager to move on from last week's shock loss to Newcastle, hold onto the league's top spot (6-2-2) by two points against Canberra United.

The 3-1 defeat to Newcastle - City's first loss to the Jets since joining the league in 2015 - killed their four-game win streak.

But the competition heavyweights at least avoided suffering back-to-back defeats for the first time since 2023/24, when they had lost to Western United and Canberra from round 14.

City had remarkably led the league on 19 points despite playing the equal-least games - on nine games with the Roar - before playing Tuesday's rescheduled round-eight fixture.

Originally slated for December, the match was postponed due to City's Women's Asian Champions League commitments.

The visitors opened the scoring after midfielder Aidean Keane had the last laugh from a scrappy duel with Roar defender Aimee Medwin.

After being fouled by Keane just three minutes earlier, Medwin downed her City opponent in the 41st minute to give away a costly penalty.

McNamara easily converted after fellow Matildas teammate and Roar goalkeeper Lincoln dived the wrong way.

The City striker regained her lead in the league's golden boot race with her ninth goal of the season, ahead of Central Coast's Annalise Rasmussen (eight).