Brisbane Roar captain Tameka Yallop scored a double in a 2-0 A-League Women win over Perth Glory as she equalled the record for most top flight matches for the club.
The 33-year-old drew level with Matildas teammate Clare Polkinghorne on 152 appearances for the Roar.
She opened the scoring with a goal for the ages from an acute angle just inside the box after a long ball from Momo Hayashi at Brisbane’s Perry Park.
Yallop was cool and calm in slotting a penalty just after halftime after Matildas teammate Sharn Freier was brought down by Glory goalkeeper Miranda Templeman. It was her 65th goal in the ALM.
Templeman was under siege for most of the match as the Roar played a wonderful brand of attacking football that featured precision passing and enthusiastic support.
Impressive 20-year-old Roar midfielder Tamar Levin noted Templeman had roamed out of the goal mouth and launched a stunning 35m strike that soared into the back of the net to give the hosts a 2-0 lead at the break. It was Levin's first in the ALM and one to savour.
The Roar have been given plenty of thrust up front from Bulgarian international Evdokiya Popadinova and the gun recruit was a constant threat.
Glory, notably lethargic in extreme humidity after a long road trip, were unable to build any momentum and gave the ball away far too often.
The win took the Roar to six points after three rounds, with Glory having the one win so far.
Friday night was special for Yallop, with former Roar and Matildas midfielder Alicia Ferguson high in her praise.
"It is really important for Tameka Yallop to stay fit and healthy at this point of her career and I think she is looking in great form," Ferguson said in commentary on Paramount.
"She has taken on this leadership role with the Brisbane Roar and has been there since I played with her in the first season of the W-League when we won the grand final in 2008-09.
"She has always been an exceptional talent and an extremely mobile and attacking player."
