Brisbane Roar's finals hopes are still flickering after holding A-League Women defending champions Melbourne Victory to a 1-1 draw in stifling heat in Queensland.
The match was played at Perry Park in Brisbane in oppressive conditions with the temperature topping 33C at the 2pm (AEST) kick-off.
As a result, the players were given drinks breaks at 15-minute intervals.
The heat caused suffering Roar defender Jessie Rasschaert to sit down on the pitch in the 88th minute, with an extra unscheduled drinks break being called as a precaution.
Rasschaert recovered and bravely continued before being substituted in stoppage time.
The draw took the Roar to 16 points, still six behind fourth-placed Victory with a game in hand.
Brisbane coach Garrath McPherson said player safety was put on the line by playing in such heat, adding that the 15-minute drinks breaks "detract from the quality of the game".
"It is for safety ... but you get no flow or momentum. The players hate it," he said.
"They pushed back the (Canberra United v Sydney) game until five o'clock but the conditions aren't as hot as this, so there's no rhyme or reason to when or how games are being moved."
Victory coach Jeff Hopkins agreed that kicking off in such oppressive conditions spoiled the game.
"I don't think the weather gave either side the opportunity to play their best football," he said.
"If (the Roar) have to play home games at 2pm it is going to be a big deterrent to their game-style and I would rather play in conditions that allow us to play our game."
The Roar started like a side whose season was on the line and they had the better of the early stages.
Matildas midfielder Katrina Gorry had two clear efforts, one saved by Casey Dumont and the other sliding just wide.
In the 19th minute, Gorry brought down Victory forward Beattie Goad in the box and Matildas representative Alexandra Chidiac converted the penalty to give the visitors the lead.
Two minutes later, Roar winger Shea Connors came up with a candidate for goal of the season.
In traffic on the edge of the box, she turned on a dime and curled a right-footer past Dumont.
The two No.10s, Gorry and Chidiac, both posed questions in the second half while Connors had a blinder down the left, with her speed and skill a highlight.
The players from both sides showed extraordinary resilience and athleticism in the conditions, with the ball movement of a high standard.
Victory dominated possession but the Roar still managed 20 shots on goal.
Dumont and her opposite number Hensley Hancuff came up with great saves for their teams.
