Perth Glory 0-0 Sydney FC
Report by Ben Gilby with EXCLUSIVE pitchside photos from Rob Lizzi at Macedonia Park (17/12/23).
Above: Perth Glory captain Tash Rigby (left) under pressure at Macedonia Park tonight. Photo: Rob Lizzi for Impetus.
Sydney FC dominated the chances and possession, but the combination of Morgan Aquino in outstanding form and the sheer bloody-minded hard work ethic of Perth Glory ensured that they remain top of the ladder with this point.
Perth welcomed back Claudia Mihocic into the starting line-up after successfully overcoming concussion protocols after she sustained a head knock in the Glory’s game at Wellington Phoenix before the international break. Grace Jale was missing from the matchday squad, with Abbey Green coming onto the bench.
The defending A-League Women champions had their Matildas World Cup star Cortnee Vine on the bench but could still boast Princess Ibini and Fiona Worts up front along with Aideen Keane, a player that Perth Glory know all about from her spell in Western Australia.
Sydney came out firing from the off. The opening exchanges saw a shot from Ibini, and then, with four minutes on the clock Keane linked with Worts on the edge of the box. The Sydney striker chested down and fired a powerful shot that Morgan Aquino did brilliantly to push away.
Just before the 10-minute mark, in-form Glory striker Millie Farrow looked to break through before being taken out on the edge of the box by Charlotte Mclean, who received a yellow card as a result. The free kick, right of centre on the edge of the ‘D’ was nullified by Sydney’s impressive rapid-fire press from Perth’s attempted training ground routine.
With the quarter-hour mark reached, the home side had settled into the encounter with the creative energy of Susan Phonsongkham a key component in this as she began to link up with Hana Lowry. The pair would combine as the latter found the former on the right flank, but the cross-shot just went over the top.
However, with Perth looking less defensively sound than they have otherwise this season, Sydney were still looking threatening offensively. Aquino had to make another stunning save from a looping shot from Ibini that was deflected en route.
As the half edged closer to its conclusion, Sydney began to dominate the possession and territory once more, with Zara Kruger sending in an increasing number of dangerous corners in the period.
Keane was also an increasing menace for the Perth defence, and it was her curling shot right on the half-time whistle that called Aquino into action once more.
The second half opened with Sydney FC bringing on Matildas star Vine in place of Keane. Despite this, it would be the hosts who had the first chance of the second period.
Lowry’s freekick from the right-hand side two minutes into the second period found Tash Rigby at the back post, with her stooping header saved by Jada Whyman in the Sydney FC goal.
The Harbour City side were back on the offensive and once more dominated possession and territory. Within seven minutes of coming on, Vine powered into the box and let fly with a powerful effort which brought another superb one-handed save by Aquino.
As the game entered its last 20 minutes, Shea Connors was introduced by Ante Juric and immediately showed her worth with a jet-heeled burst along the left before shooting wide. Ibini missed a golden opportunity shortly afterwards as a high free kick was curled into the box and both Sadie Lawrence and Rigby failed to clear. The Sydney attacker’s finish was well over the top.
In this spell, Sydney made claims for a penalty after Ibini went down under a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge on the edge of the area with Jess Cowart, but referee Shane Skinner was unmoved.
A rare second-half entrance into the box area for the hosts saw Quinley Quezada supply a lovely off-load for Phonsongkham, but Sydney snaffled the danger away quickly. Quezada was involved again with a chance in stoppage time, but massed defence and the presence of Whyman denied the Philippines attacker.
Sydney FC are likely to see this as two points dropped for their dominance and opportunities. They were denied by Morgan Aquino in career-best form, and a wider Perth Glory side who battle and scrap to the death for the shirt. Whilst Sydney largely nullified the Western Australian side’s attacking threat, Glory went toe to toe with one of the league’s best and once more came out undefeated.
Rob Lizzi’s EXCLUSIVE photo gallery from Macedonia Park for Impetus:
Teams: PERTH GLORY (4-5-1): Aquino, Anton, Cowart, Mihocic, Rigby, Sakalis, Dalton, Lowry, Quezada, Phonsongkham, Farrow. Substitutes: Cassidy, Green, James (GK), Johnston, Lawrence.
SYDNEY FC (4-3-3): Whyman, Fenton, Chauvet, Mclean, Tumeth, Kruger, Hollman, Caspers, Ibini, Worts, Keane. Substitutes: Franco (GK), Connors, Ray, Thompson, Vine.
Referee: Shane Skinner.
Attendance: 1,568.
Follow Impetus on social media – we’re @ImpetusFootball on Threads, Instagram, X (Twitter), TikTok, and Facebook.
impetusfootball.org 