Perth Glory 2-0 Western United
by Ben Gilby (14/10/23)
Above: Hana Lowry looks to break through for Perth Glory tonight. Photo: Perth Glory.
Perth Glory produced hints of their potential this season as the talented young Western Australian side defeated last year’s beaten Grand Finalists Western United at Macedonia Park in their season opener.
Perth head coach Alex Epakis gave five players their debut with Jessika Cowart, Grace Jale, Millie Farrow, Grace Johnston, and Georgia Cassidy all wearing purple for the first time. The latter two locally produced teenagers have caught the eye consistently in the NPLW WA with Hyundai NTC over the past two seasons. There was also a return for the vastly talented Claudia Mihocic who missed the whole of last season through injury.
Farrow was industrious from the start as she pounced on a short back pass from Alana Cerne to Melissa Dall’Oste and looked to jump into direct the ball home, but the visitors cleared the danger. Young Johnston was also getting into the groove on her pro debut, linking up well with her fellow Western Australian Hana Lowry via the left. Glory also had the stunning footwork of Susan Phonsongkham which saw her dance past three defenders and pull over a low ball from the right but one could get on the end of it.
The Taranto twins were establishing a foothold in the midfield for the visitors and looked to bring in the dangerous Hannah Keane who broke free just past the quarter of an hour mark to get in a shot that Morgan Aquino blocked with her legs in the Perth goal. Moments later Adriana Taranto fired in a shot that hit the side netting as Western United grew increasingly into the game.
Just before the half-hour mark, United came close once more as Tyla-Jay Vlajnic pulled in a centimetre-perfect cross from the left, Melissa Taranto got up between two defenders to direct a header goalwards, but Aquino produced a superb save. Moments later Adriana Taranto curled an effort narrowly wide of the right-hand post.
Phonsongkham’s impressive evening continued as she played a brilliantly tempting ball into the mix that saw Sofia Sakalis go into a challenge with Dall’Oste as the ball came through but to no avail.
Glory were targeting the inexperienced visiting keeper Dall’Oste – looking to close her down at every possible opportunity from back passes, yet as the game reached half-time, they hadn’t been able to capitalise.
However, they hit the front just four minutes into the second half as Phonsongkham stamped her influence on the game with a stunning strike. The ball was played back to her by Farrow on the right-hand edge of the box to curl a superb effort that bounced through into the bottom corner of the net.
United came agonisingly close to levelling just after the hour mark as Cassidy was ruled to have handled outside the area. Vlajnic’s dangerous free kick on the right curled its way against the bar with Aquino beaten. Cerne couldn’t reach the rebound and Perth cleared.
However, any hope that the visitors had of coming back were blown out of the water with 11 minutes remaining as Jale received the ball outside the box on the right-hand side and unleashed with an absolute rocket that flew into the top of the net. Up until this point the Kiwi international had not been seen as much as she may have wanted to be – but the mark of a class player is the ability to create a moment of magic from nowhere – and Jale did just that.
Despite their best efforts in the closing stages, Western United could not find their way through Glory’s well-marshalled defence with Aquino a superb last line of it. For last year’s Grand Final runners-up, it was a frustrating defeat. They conjured up some excellent attacking play. The Taranto twins were impressive in their energy and vision, and Vlajnic was devastating from set pieces. They just could not find a way past Aquino in the Perth goal.
The Glory at times last season were left to rue not taking chances that came their way, and that was something that they could not be accused of tonight. They went toe to toe with a team who will be competing for a place in Finals once more this year.
There is so much to take from this game for Alex Epakis’ team – a defensive solidity and organisation, a few signs of the sparkling attacking potential, and the seamless transition into the A-League Women from local teenagers. A team who are able to bring on the talent of Abbey Green off the bench also highlights the depth of the Western Australian side’s squad this season. For me though, this performance doesn’t come anywhere close to their potential – they can be an even better team than they showed tonight.
PERTH GLORY (4-3-3): Aquino, Cowart, Rigby, Mihocic, Johnston, Phonsongkham, Cassidy, Lowry, Jale, Farrow, Sakalis. Substitutes: Cain, Foletta, Green, James (GK), Lawrence.
Scorers: Phonsongkham 49′, Jale 79′.
WESTERN UNITED (4-3-3): Dall’Oste, Papadopoulos, Cerne, Maher, Vlajnic, Sawicki, Robers, M. Taranto, A. Taranto, Johnson, Keane. Substitutes: Picak (GK), Sardo, Dakic, Hiedo, De Domizio.
Referee: Isabelle Blaess.
Attendance: TBC.
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