Melbourne City 1-3 Perth Glory
by Ben Gilby (9/12/23).
Above: Perth Glory’s hat-trick hero Millie Farrow (right) celebrates with Susan Phonsongkham today. Photo: Perth Glory.
Perth Glory produced a gritty and ruthless performance to make the most of their chances when they came. Despite having significantly less possession and opportunities on goal, Alex Epakis’ side defeated Melbourne City in the battle of the top two in wet conditions at Genis Steel Stadium.
The home side had to make a number of changes in their squad after late returns from players who were away with national teams. Leia Varley was called in for her City debut, Keira Meyers and Tijan McKenna made their first starts in a sky blue shirt, and Karly Røstbakken came in for her first game of the season.
For the Glory, Grace Jale moved down to the bench with Sofia Sakalis moved up front with Millie Farrow.
With 15 minutes on the clock, Farrow had possession along the right before linking with Sofia Sakalis, centrally positioned on the edge of the box who laid off for Izzy Dalton to offload with a rocket that needed to be pushed over the top by City goalkeeper Lysianne Proulx.
However, within a minute it was City who went ahead. Kiera Meyers, positioned near the by-line laid the ball back for Western Australian and former Glory player Tijan McKenna to lift in a centimetre-perfect cross from the right wing for Hannah Wilkinson to rise between two defenders in the box to direct a header into the far corner of the net.
The home side’s lead lasted for 15 minutes as Laura Hughes’ lost possession to Hana Lowry who played in Quinley Quezada to thread through a perfectly weighted pass which took City’s Taylor Otto out of the game for Farrow to enter the box, round Proulx, and calmly direct the ball home from an increasingly acute angle.
There was still time for Perth to have claims for a penalty as Farrow went down under the attentions from former Glory star Leticia McKenna on the left hand edge of the box, but referee Kate Jacewicz was non plussed.
With the scoreline remaining locked at 1-1 into the break, it was Perth who grabbed the momentum in the early period of the second half of this showdown between the A-League Women’s top two.
Six minutes in, Dalton played a looped pass from the centre out to take Meyers out of the play for Liz Anton on the left flank. The Football Fern then turned the teenager and made for the byline to play a low ball to the feet of Farrow who sidefooted in first time from 10 metres in a classic poacher’s finish.
City would look to press, and with 65 on the clock, Perth goalkeeper Morgan Aquino’s less-than-perfect clearance eventually came to Daniela Galic on the edge of the box who played in Emina Ekić to hit a powerful curling shot from around 15 metres out that Aquino did well to get a hand out to save.
The visitors’ ruthless form this season was seen once more, as within four minutes of Ekić’s opportunity, a City attack involving Wilkinson was broken up and Farrow released. The English striker comfortably won the footrace with Karly Røstbakken to burst through the City half, round Proulx in the home side’s goal, and direct the ball into the net with ease.
Melbourne City conjured up one remaining half-chance in the dying embers as Ekić escaped along the right to play in a low cross for Wilkinson to direct goalwards, but Aquino got down to make a comfortable save.
Time and again this campaign Perth have taken chances at crucial times of matches – and this was the most prominent example thus far. They had less than 40% possession, 14 fewer shots on goal, and six fewer on target, yet they still won 3-1.
This was the most prominent example of their ability to do so. That is the sign of a team who are potential champions. Whilst we are still only in round seven, this was a statement-making win by Alex Epakis’ side.
Teams: MELBOURNE CITY (4-1-4-1): Proulx, Meyers, Røstbakken, Otto, Varley, Hughes, L. McKenna, T. McKenna, Pollicina, Torpey, Wilkinson. Substitutes: Barbieri (GK), Davidson, Ekić, Galic, Thomas-Chinnama.
Scorer: Wilkinson 17′.
PERTH GLORY (4-4-2): Aquino, Anton, Cowart, Lawrence, Rigby, Quezada, Lowry, Dalton, Phonsongkham, Farrow, Sakalis. Substitutes: Cain, Cassidy, Jale, James (GK), Johnston.
Scorers: Farrow 32′, 51′, 71′.
Referee: Kate Jacewicz.
Attendance: TBC.
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