Brisbane's top-four hopes have been dealt an almighty blow after they suffered a shock 2-1 A-League Women (ALW) loss to last-placed Western Sydney.

Western United made the most of the Roar's slip-up, with their 2-1 win over struggling Sydney FC propelling them from seventh to fourth.

Brisbane entered Sunday's match in fourth spot and rated as hot favourites to beat a Wanderers outfit that had only won once from 14 games this season.

Western Sydney had other ideas.

Sienna Saveska pounced on a defensive error from Roar defender Holly McQueen in the seventh minute to give the Wanderers a surprise 1-0 lead.

Zara Kruger levelled the scores for Brisbane with a floating wonder strike in the 67th minute.

But there was one more twist to come, with a beautiful through ball from Danika Matos allowing Wanderers substitute Holly Caspers to squeeze home the winner in the 88th minute.

The result dropped Brisbane (24 points) to fifth spot, with Central Coast (24) and Canberra (22) breathing down their neck.

There were no such slip-ups for Western United (25), who got the job done against a Sydney side that is second last on the table in a huge fall from grace from the ALW powerhouse.

United star Chloe Logarzo scored the opener in the eight minute, with her shot squeezing past goalkeeper Bethany Mason-Jones.

Mackenzie Hawkesby got the Sky Blues back on level terms in similar fashion in the 14th.

Only the crossbar denied forward Adriana Taranto from grabbing the lead back for United.

But Kahli Mary Johnson's 43rd-minute strike - her eighth goal of the season - was enough to get United over the line.

Logarzo had the chance to ice the game in the 70th, but her penalty was saved by Mason-Jones in her first ALW match in six years.