SINGAPORE – The scoreboard at the Bishan Stadium read Women’s Premier League (WPL) All-Stars 1 Brisbane Roar 7, but the lopsided result did little to dampen the spirits or smiles of the players on April 4.
A crowd of 2,108 male and female spectators – some wearing Roar jerseys and carrying signs of their favourite footballers – had turned out to cheer the teams in the exhibition match, adding to the lively atmosphere in the stands.
And they were treated to a goal fest, including one from Singapore and Roar forward Danelle Tan – her first for the A-League Women side.
“You look up in the stands, all these young girls and boys,” said the 20-year-old, who joined the team in 2024.
“So supportive, so willing to come down, take time off their Friday night to come and support and watch a game like this.
“Just looking around and seeing the support we get, it’s been amazing.”
The Roar are in Singapore for a five-day tour, which was organised as part of a partnership with the Football Association of Singapore.
Brisbane Roar’s Danelle Tan (left) fighting for the ball against the Women’s Premier League All-Star team captain Siti Rosnani Azman at an exhibition match on April 4.ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
While they acknowledged the gulf in standards between the A-League Women side and themselves, the WPL All-Stars, who had only two training sessions together, were left more inspired than demoralised after the match.
Captain Siti Rosnani Azman said: “It’ll be a good thing, at least (players) know what to expect if they want to pursue playing at a professional level.
“In Singapore, it can only go so far. But, when you start playing against teams or players who are better than you, you start to know there are things that you can improve on if you want to be called up and play overseas as a professional career.”
The Roar were quick to stamp their mark on the game.
They opened the scoring in the third minute, when Bulgarian forward Evdokiya Popadinova found the net with a left-footed strike.
Not short on star power themselves, the WPL All-Stars with 2015 Women’s World Cup players Sunisa Srangthaisong (Thailand) and Kana Kitahara (Japan) in their ranks, equalised just three minutes later.
Sunisa’s corner was initially headed away by Tan, but she regained possession, beat the Singaporean and then saw her shot deflect off Holly McQueen into the net.
The local side did well to contain the Roar initially, limiting their chances and creating some of their own.
However, the Australian outfit struck again as goalkeeper Nur Izairida Shakira cleared Tanaye Morris’ effort, only for Popadinova to latch on and head in her second goal.
The Roar extended their lead to 3-1 when Tamar Levin scored following a scramble in the box.
The gap widened after the break as Daisy Brown headed in their fourth in the 57th minute, before Levin added a fifth five minutes later.
Tan drilled a shot into the bottom right corner to make it 6-1, before Emily Pringle sealed the rout five minutes from time.
Lion City Sailors defender Nur Umairah Hamdan said: “I really took away the tenacity of how they went in for tackles, how strong they were and how much they wanted to get back the ball.
“It’s a good experience for all of us – we can look up to them.
“For players who want to go to the A-League, there’s a benchmark of how much we have to work towards and the gap that we (have to) close.”
Apart from the exhibition match, Roar goalkeeper Emma Gibbon was glad to have had the opportunity to participate in coaching clinics with young footballers during the visit.
She said: “It was really cool to be a role model for some kids who maybe want to be a professional soccer player one day.
“Maybe (they) haven’t seen people of the level that we get to play, and they can aspire to come play in Australia one day.”
