Perth Glory 2-2 Melbourne Victory
Report by Ben Gilby.
EXCLUSIVE match photography by Rob Lizzi at Macedonia Park (18/11/23).
Above: Hana Lowry (centre) celebrates with team mates after her late equaliser at Macedonia Park. Photo: Rob Lizzi for Impetus.
Two goals from Perth Glory young gun Hana Lowry book-ended a superb match at Macedonia Park tonight in an encounter that saw three strikes in the closing period of a match that went one way, then the other, before finding equilibrium.
Hana Lowry’s strike five minutes into stoppage time at the end of 90 minutes ensured that Perth Glory would retain their unbeaten start to the A-League Women season. It had been Lowry that put the league leaders ahead from a free-kick after 24 minutes. Then came the drama, as the hosts might have sealed the win with a quarter of an hour remaining as Millie Farrow burst clean through, only to see her shot roll wide of the upright. Within five minutes Perth’s lead had gone. Within 10 minutes they were behind. Then up stepped local star Lowry to save the day.
Whilst Perth Glory retained a generally settled squad in their bid to extend their winning start to five games, Melbourne Victory would go into this encounter without Matildas Em Gielnik, Beattie Goad, and Emma Checker.
Macedonia Park is renowned for its breezy conditions, and tonight was no different, notably in the first half. It was the visitors who were the fastest to set their attacking stall out. In the opening two minutes, McKenzie Weinert linked up well with Elise Kellond-Knight on the right. Shortly afterwards, from the same flank, Jessika Nash’s curling cross came back off the crossbar with the home side first to react and the danger was cleared.
Victory were employing the fast, high press to great effect, and under fierce pressure, Georgia Cassidy lost possession outside the box which allowed Kurea Okino to let rip with a long-range effort that went just wide of the right-hand upright.
Okino’s danger was increasingly evident in the opening 20 minutes. Kellond-Knight’s ball in from the right was chested down by the Japanese attacker who then got a shot away. Just moments later, Okino had another chance that forced an excellent save from Morgan Aquino in the Perth goal.
The hosts continued to find it more challenging when in possession than at any time this season. They had no time on the ball at all in the opening 20, with several white shirts buzzing round any purple one in possession.
However, they received a golden opportunity with 24 minutes played. The hard-working Farrow was brought down centrally outside the box by Tori Hansen. Up stepped Lowry, who needs no second invitation in such circumstances to fire home the free kick into the left-hand corner past Lydia Williams’ outstretched arm.
As Perth continued to grow into the match, so did Susan Phonsongkham’s influence. In outstanding form this season, was at the heart of the home side’s most successful attacking build-ups as she looked to use her combination of pace and clever footwork to break free.
Just before the half-hour mark, Farrow was released by a centimetre-perfect ball from Sofia Sakalis. The English striker was only denied by a superb piece of defending by Kayla Morrison to clear off the line.
As the encounter edged towards the interval, chances became fewer and further between, with the Western Australians retaining their lead at the break.
The second half started with Rachel Lowe finding out what NPLW WA watchers have known for quite a while – that Georgia Cassidy isn’t just about classy passing and long-range thunderbolts – the 19-year-old can also put in a fierce challenge, and this one was a perfectly judged slide tackle.
Perth were on the front foot from the re-start. Jale saw shots blocked twice in quick succession – first by Hansen, and Williams denied the immediate follow-up at the cost of a corner. Cassidy took and put in a trademark viciously inswinging ball right into the mix.
From another corner 12 minutes into the second period, Victory forced the ball into the net. Kellond-Knight’s corner from the left came in deep towards Morrison who headed back into the six-yard box for Hansen to find Weinert who turned the ball in, only for it to be immediately ruled out for offside.
At the other end, Jale’s throw on the left-hand flank allowed Farrow to cut the ball back from the byline for Anton to sweep a shot goalwards that Williams needed to hold.
Then came the beginning of the high drama which started with two opportunities within four minutes of each other. With a quarter of an hour remaining, Jale released Farrow who broke clean through the middle but put her shot agonisingly wide of the left-hand post.
Just three minutes later, Perth paid the price for that miss as a corner came in from the left and was played back to Lowe on the edge of the box who fired a low shot into the left-hand corner of the net that went in after a slight deflection.
With six minutes remaining, Victory hit the front. Jamilla Rankin played a ball in from the left that was headed out, but only as far as Lowe on the edge of the box to fire a volley first time into the net.
However, the drama wasn’t over. Five minutes into the six allotted of stoppage time, Perth’s teenage substitute Grace Johnston danced sublimely along the left-hand touchline before laying off to Quinley Quezada who found Phonsongkam on the edge of the box. She in turn played a beautiful cushioned sidefoot glance to Lowry who was stationed to the left of the penalty spot to lash into the right-hand corner. It was a sensational team move and another sign of the calmness and composure in this young Perth side this campaign
One of the keys to Perth’s winning start to the season has been their habit of taking opportunities when they came. Tonight, that once more went their way.
Teams: PERTH GLORY (4-2-2-2): Aquino, Anton, Cowart, Mihocic, Rigby, Lowry, Cassidy, Sakalis, Phonsongkham, Farrow, Jale. Substitutes: Bailey (GK), Cain, Lawrence, Quezada, Johnston.
Scorers: Lowry 24′, 90+5.
MELBOURNE VICTORY (4-4-2): Williams, Rankin, Morrison, Hansen, Nash, Weinert, Kellond-Knight, D’Appolonia, Murphy, Okino, Lowe. Substitutes: Templeman (GK), O’Grady, Zois, Briedis, Curtis.
Scorers: Lowe 79′, 84′.
Referee: Caitlin Williams.
Attendance: 1,533.
Follow Impetus on social media – we’re @ImpetusFootball on Threads, Instagram, X (Twitter), and Facebook. DON’T MISS our brand new TikTok platform @ImpetusFootball too!
impetusfootball.org 