Roar’s Riley goals win over the bar and victory
Brisbane Roar forward Indiah-Paige Riley is aiming to represent New Zealand at the upcoming World Cup, but first on her radar is an all-important women’s A-League clash against Melbourne Victory.
The Roar sit fifth in the ALW rankings with 15 points, six points behind fourth-placed Victory, who has played a game more.
The Roar need to win at Perry Park on Saturday to keep their top four hopes alive.
Riley, 21, has a strong combination with Larissa Crummer, Shea Connors and Katrina Gorry, the Roar’s main attacking players.
All three have hit the woodwork in the last month, with Gorry hitting the crossbar multiple times in the team’s last two home games.
“I think the crossbar is the best defender for the teams we’re facing. We always seem to meet her,” Riley told AAP.
“We had a good away win (1-0) against Adelaide and we’re going into the game with a lot of momentum.
“Victory has to travel and we know that a place in the top four is at stake.
“Hopefully we can take our chances and fold them… and not hit the bar.”
Riley moved to Australia from New Zealand when he was 12 and steadily worked his way through the ranks to make his debut for the Matildas against Germany in 2021.
Her deepest wish was to represent her home country and after talks with Football Ferns coach Jitka Klimkova and a green light from FIFA, she was able to join against Mexico and make her debut for New Zealand last year.
The Football Ferns meet Norway in their World Cup opener at Eden Park in Riley’s hometown of Auckland on July 20.
Riley’s family, including parents Nicola and Mark, are all from New Zealand.
“I was born there too, so it’s always an honor for me to represent my family as well,” she said.
“We have another international window in New Zealand against Portugal and Argentina and I’m ready to give my best.
“It’s a great opportunity to have a home World Cup and I think we can achieve great things. Hopefully we can make history and win our first game.”
The Football Ferns recently won two internationals against the USA. Riley played in the first of those, a 4-0 loss, and said it was a reality check.
“It was a good test against world no. 1 and I think we can learn and grow,” she said.
