It was a day defined by impenetrable defences and heartfelt milestones at Kayo Stadium on Saturday, January 3. Both Brisbane Roar and Wellington Phoenix displayed outstanding discipline. As a result, the doubleheader produced rare back-to-back 0–0 draws. Although the scorelines remained unchanged, the intensity on the pitch stayed high. Meanwhile, the emotional atmosphere in the stands made it a memorable day for Brisbane supporters.
Men’s Recap: The Fortress Holds Firm
The Roar men extended their impressive home record. They secured a sixth consecutive clean sheet at Kayo Stadium. In what became a tactical chess match, Brisbane’s defence controlled proceedings. Lucas Herrington led the backline with authority in his final appearance. Despite head coach Michael Valkanis serving a suspension, the team held its shape throughout. Consequently, the Roar frustrated Wellington for the full 90 minutes and limited their attacking impact.
Men’s Match Fast Facts
- Defensive Prowess: Brisbane remains unbeaten and has yet to concede a goal on home soil this season, extending their streak to six consecutive clean sheets at Kayo Stadium.
- Vidic Denied: New Year’s Eve hero Justin Vidic came closest to scoring with a powerful 32nd-minute effort that was ultimately ruled out for offside by the narrowest of margins.
- Tactical Stalemate: Wellington adopted a cautious mid-block that limited Brisbane’s creative outlets, resulting in a disciplined defensive battle with few clear-cut chances for either side.
- Ladder Impact: The draw keeps Brisbane firmly in 3rd place with 19 points, maintaining their position in the hunt for the top of the Isuzu UTE A-League table.
A Landmark Farewell: Lucas Herrington
The emotional peak of the day arrived at 5:50 pm. At that moment, the club held a formal farewell for Lucas Herrington ahead of his move to MLS side Colorado Rapids. The 18-year-old academy graduate joined the Brisbane Roar at just 13.
Since then, Herrington has built a remarkable pathway through the system. His transfer sets a new financial benchmark as a club-record fee for a Brisbane academy product. As a result, the moment highlighted the strength of the club’s development program. Thousands of fans remained in their seats to give him a standing ovation before he departs for the Rapids’ 2026 preseason.
Women’s Recap: Resiliance Amidst Injury Crisis
Later in the evening, the Brisbane Roar women delivered a performance full of character. They earned a valuable point against the league’s top-rated defence. Despite a significant personnel shortage, Brisbane stayed organised.
Moreover, the makeshift lineup contained Wellington’s attacking threats effectively. In doing so, the performance underlined the depth and promise of the club’s emerging talent.
Women’s Match Fast Facts
- Injury Toll: The team was without four key starters today, including Grace Kuilamu (knee) and Zara Kruger (ankle), who were late withdrawals. They join captain Tameka Yallop and Isabela Hoyos Yanez on a significant unavailable list.
- The “Samba” Lock: Brisbane’s defensive structure successfully nullified Wellington’s star striker, Sabitra “Samba” Bhandari, keeping the league’s most dangerous attacker quiet and off the scoresheet for the entire match.
- Youth Impact: Several academy graduates played significant minutes, stepping up under immense pressure to maintain the team’s shape and preserve a hard-fought clean sheet against a top-four opponent.
- Ladder Position: The 0-0 draw keeps Brisbane in 7th place and within striking distance of the top four as they look toward a difficult run of away fixtures, starting with Melbourne City next week.
