Canberra United 2-3 Perth Glory
by Ben Gilby (4/11/23)
Above: Cote Rojas (left) and Michelle Heyman look to find a way through for Canberra United today. Photo: Canberra United.
Perth Glory gained an impressive victory in front of a record McKellar Park crowd to defeat their bogey team Canberra United and extend their winning start to the season.
Perth were aggressive from the start with Millie Farrow and former Canberra favourite Grace Jale connecting well. The league leaders won multiple corners in the opening 10 minutes as a direct consequence.
From one such corner with 10 minutes played, locally produced teenager Georgia Cassidy curled the ball in towards the back post for Hana Lowry to bring down and fire a shot that Chloe Lincoln pushed over from point-blank range.
The subsequent flag kick was viciously curled in high by Cassidy towards the back post again where an unmarked Tash Rigby headed home at the back post. Canberra were, at this stage, absolutely swamped by the Western Australian’s attacking prowess.
Yet, within moments, the green machine were level as Mary Stanic Floody’s corner from the left was met on the run by a powerful header from Cannon Clough – the first goal Perth Glory had conceded all season. It served as a reminder that whilst Canberra have conceded too many goals for their liking in the opening three rounds of this campaign, they have more than enough offensive threats to score a hatful as well.
Farrow remained a real handful for the home defence, constantly lurking and using her pace to close down back passes. The English attacker’s impact this season has been significant in the Glory’s early season successes.
After Canberra’s leveller, the frantic attacking nature of the game slowed to a more transitional encounter. Sasha Grove was become more influential for the hosts along the left flank for the hosts, combining excellently with Vesna Milivojevic. They were also working hard to reduce the time on the ball for key Perth creators Lowry and Cassidy as well as cutting off the concession of corners.
Just as the home side were looking to put together their most threatening spell of the game, Perth went ahead with five minutes of the half remaining as the Farrow-Jale combination showed its worth once more.
Farrow gained possession out towards the left. She danced her way into a more central possession, drawing a defender with her before threading through a centimetre perfect pass into the feet of Jale’s run into the box. The New Zealander side-footed comfortably home past Lincoln.
Yet, within moments Canberra had a chance to level as Cote Rojas was played in by Grove and advanced towards the byline before being brought down by Claudia Mihocic, and referee Isabella Libre had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Up stepped Milivojevic to roll the ball home to the right of centre as the clock ticked onto 45 minutes.
The second period opened on a cautious note with both sides looking to maintain possession. Perth’s patience won maximum rewards seven minutes in as Cassidy showed great skill to advance out and found her former Hyundai NTC teammate Grace Johnston on the left.
The teenager ran up the flank and played in Farrow who delivered a low ball across for Sakalis who was bought down in the box by Alex McKenzie with a penalty awarded. The 21-year-old picked herself up and rifled a powerful spot kick which, although Lincoln got a hand to, proved to be unstoppable.
With the game entering its final 25 minutes, Canberra looked to up the ante with Rojas working hard to get involved. The Chilean sucked in two or three defenders at a time to keep her at bay. Michelle Heyman and Nikki Flannery were largely quiet and managed credibly by the visiting defence.
Perth head coach Alex Epakis brought on Tia Stonehill and Isabella Dalton – with locally produced striker Stonehill making her A-League Women debut. An attacker with a deadly goal record in the NPLW WA over the years, it completed a fairy-tale return to the game for a player who suffered serious injury in 2022 which left her needing extensive support to recover.
The changes brought about another flurry of possession for the visitors who were able to largely hold Canberra at arm’s length, with the exception of a stunning effort from Deven Jackson from the edge of the box that hit the bar.
The victory, only the Western Australians’ fourth in A-League Women history over the capital city club saw Perth Glory continue their 100% winning start to the campaign and stay top of the ladder. Conversely, Canberra United are still looking for their first win and have leaked nine goals in their opening three matches.
Teams: CANBERRA UNITED (3-1-4-2): Lincoln, McKenzie, Clough, Bertolissio, Stanic-Floody, Flannery, Milivojevic, Ilijoski, Grove, Heyman, Rojas. Substitutes: Christopherson, Jackson, Majstorovic, Murray, Nathan.
Scorers: Clough 17′, Milivojevic (pen) 45′.
PERTH GLORY (4-3-3): Aquino, Cowart, Mihocic, Lowry, Cassidy, Phonsongkham, Sakalis, Farrow, Jale. Substitutes: Anton, Cain, Dalton, James, Stonehill.
Scorers: Rigby 12′, Jale 40′, Sakalis 52′.
Referee: Isabella Libre.
Attendance: 2,229 (record attendance for a regular season game at McKellar Park).
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