Surprise W-League pacesetters Melbourne Victory saw their undefeated start to the season finally come to an end as Brisbane Roar won an action-packed seven-goal contest on Sunday.
The 4-3 win in pelting rain at Lions Stadium came at a cost for the Roar who saw key imports Chioma Ubogagu and Carson Pickett taken off injured, while midfield dynamo Katrina Gorry was sent off in the final minute.
Roar forward Allira Toby opened the scoring with a long-range effort and the home side were never headed despite Christine Nairn's equally impressive strike for the Victory, which sent the teams into the half-time break on level terms.
The Roar scored twice in quick succession soon after the break through a pair of own goals, including one from the league's leading goalscorer Natasha Dowie.
The goalmouth action was unrelenting at both ends, but the Roar could finally breathe easy when former Japan international Yuki Nagasato scored a late sealer.
Victory's first defeat of the campaign saw their lead at the summit trimmed to three points amid a congested ladder.
Perth Glory's Sam Kerr added another goal to her season tally on Saturday evening, but for once the league's marquee player was outshone as Newcastle Jets' American pair Katie Stengel and Britt Eckerstrom combined to help earn their side earn an unlikely share of the spoils.
Kerr continued her form in front of goal by burying a penalty to give the Glory an early 2-1 lead in Perth.
Larissa Crummer received her marching orders for the foul that led to the penalty, leaving the Jets to play 70 minutes with ten players.
But Stengel scored a superb second goal to draw the two team's level, while at the other end goalkeeper Eckerstrom made a string of spectacular saves to help the Jets avoid a three-match losing streak.
The 2-2 draw kept the Glory in second and still undefeated after six matches.
Sydney FC opened the round on Thursday in ominous form with a stunning 5-2 win over Adelaide United to leapfrog into third.
It was the second match in succession that the Sky Blues had hit five, this time against an Adelaide side that had conceded just three times in their previous five outings.
Australian Associated Press
