Perth Glory 0-2 Western Sydney Wanderers
By Kieran Yap 8/1/2
Above: Sophie Harding. Photo: Western Sydney Wanderers
Two very different but equally stunning goals from Sophie Harding have given the Western Sydney Wanderers a surprise win against Perth Glory.
A trip across the country to Macedonia Park is a tough ask in any season, but the Glory have been in excellent form this year. The Wanderers recent form has been good, and a draw would have not been a shock, but a 2-0 win was something very few would have tipped.
It was a meeting of two similar teams in some ways, but opposites in others. Perth Glory are approaching the culmination of a years-long plan. Alex Epakis has built his squad on based around a core of the countries best young players and a few local legends. Glory has been a stable project that looks to be bearing fruit.
Western Sydney have been anything but stable in that same time, three coaches in four seasons, with Robbie Hooker coming in just weeks before this campaign began. Interestingly, they have similar looking teams, and play attacking football based around having their fastest player at centre forward and a passing maestro at the back.
On paper, this was going to be an attacking match, and both teams set out to score early. The Wanderers had the best early chances through an effort on the turn from Mahliah Morris and a long range effort from Harding.
Perth answered with a typically surging run from Millie Farrow. The in-form attacker found Susan Phonsongkham on the right, but her curling effort whizzed over the bar.
Harding opened the scoring for the evening with a powerful first time effort from the edge of the box. Olivia Price cut the ball back to the Harding’s favourite spot to unleash from and Morgan Aquino was left with no chance despite her best driving effort.
Perth were not cowered by going behind, and Hana Lowry came close to equalising before half time with a thunderous drive that crashed off the bar with Kaylie Collins beaten.
Urged on by an enthusiastic home crowd, The Glory continued to push forward, Farrow found space early in the second half, but her effort was right at the Wanderers keeper when a goal looked certain.
Perth’s search for parity continued and that left gaps between the midfield and defence. Jessika Cowart and Claudia Mihocic were both regularly well positioned, but exposed as the fullbacks ran upfield. Holly Casper’s almost took advantage with a strong run along the left. Aquino was able to smother the attempt.
Harding sealed the game with her second of the night. A brilliant run through the defence had her side on to the goal, but she kept composure to take a final touch around the defender and create the space to slam the ball home past Collins.
Perth Glory remain in second place and three points above Western United, but the win puts Western Sydney into finals contention in sixth.
They are playing with confidence and purpose and have one of the leagues best strikers on current form. Next week is Unity Round in Sydney, and as this competition keeps reminding us anything can happen.
Teams:
Perth Glory 4-3-3: Aquino (GK), Rigby, Mihocic, Cowart, Anton, Dalton, Lowry, Sakalis, Phonsongkham, Farrow, Jales. Substitutes: Quezeda, Johnston, Cassidy, Cain, James.
Western Sydney Wanderers 3-4-3: Collins (GK), Harrison, McComansky, Bruce, Rue, Apostolakis, Price, Matos, Morris, Caspers, Harding. Substitutes: Ferris, Caceras, Younis, Ebdul-Massih, Segavcic
Goals: Harding 24’ 72’
Referee: Isabella Mossin
Attendance: TBC
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