Sydney had dominated the two matches between the sides this season scoring eight goals to Roar's two.

It looked like it might play out the same way again.

Brisbane Roar was down to 10 early on when Allira Toby clashed heads with Alanna Kennedy and had to receive treatment off the pitch to stop the bleeding.

She soon returned to the field sporting a bandage on her forehead.

The first half progressed rather slowly, with both sides struggling to create clear cut chances until young Princess Ibini found herself on the end of a Caitlin Foord cross forcing Mackenzie Arnold to push it out.

This lit a fire in Sydney as they continued to pressure the Roar defence to give them the advantage.

Foord opened the scoring in the 33rd minute after Danielle Colaprico fainted a shoot, and instead played in the Matildas forward.

Roar were having their chances but none came better in the first half then when Hayley Raso won a free-kick after Ally Green conceded a foul. Carson Pickett took the free-kick and almost found the head of Toby but just missed it.

Sydney then buckled down in their defence, it was proving difficult for Roar to overcome but at the same time this stronghold defending allowed the Sky Blue forwards to run riot toward the goal.

The game was going Sydney's way but after a goalmouth scramble saw Arnold make a save to deny Foord's overhead shot, Roar kicked into a swift counter-attack.