It was a night shaped by defensive discipline and emotional farewells at Kayo Stadium as Brisbane Roar and Wellington Phoenix played out a rare double stalemate. Both the men’s and women’s matches ended 0–0. As a result, fans witnessed tactical control and structure, even though neither side found the net.
Men’s Report: The Home Fortress Holds
The Roar men extended their remarkable defensive run, securing a sixth straight home clean sheet this season. Despite head coach Michael Valkanis serving a suspension in the stands, the Brisbane backline stood firm. Lucas Herrington, in his final appearance, anchored the defence with authority. Wellington arrived eager to respond after a heavy midweek defeat. Accordingly, they adopted a compact mid-block that limited Brisbane’s attacking rhythm. Justin Vidic, last round’s hero, thought he had scored in the 32nd minute. However, officials ruled the effort offside. At the other end, the Phoenix probed through Ifeanyi Eze. Even so, Dean Bouzanis rarely faced danger. The Roar calmly maintained their status as the league’s hardest defence to break down.
An Emotional Exit: Lucas Herrington’s Final Bow
The tone shifted during the interval between matches. The club paused proceedings to farewell Lucas Herrington. The 18-year-old academy graduate has secured a club-record transfer to MLS side Colorado Rapids.
Herrington joined the Roar at just 13 years old. Since then, he has built a reputation as one of Queensland’s finest young defenders. “I am so grateful to the Roar for giving me the opportunity to start my professional journey,” he told the crowd. He officially joins the Rapids later this month, marking a proud milestone for the Brisbane academy.
Women’s Report: Defiance in the Face of Injury
In the late kickoff, the Roar women showed resilience to hold a high-flying Wellington side scoreless. The result carried extra weight given the squad’s injury issues. Grace Kuilamu (knee) and Zara Kruger (ankle) joined an already lengthy list just before kickoff.
Wellington’s defensive benchmarks remained clear throughout the match. However, Brisbane’s reshuffled midfield delivered the standout performance. They successfully neutralised Sabitra Bhandari for the full 90 minutes. While the Brisbane Roar missed the chance to claim all three points, the display offered encouragement. In particular, several academy players impressed in a high-pressure setting, giving coach Alex Smith plenty to build on.
