Victory and Glory play for the win but leave with a draw

Melbourne Victory 1-1 Perth Glory

By Emma Burke 12/1/24

Above: Kayla Morrison (right) and Quinley Quezada fight for possession. Photo: Melbourne Victory.

The opening game of the inaugural A-Leagues Unite Round saw Melbourne Victory and Perth Glory leave Leichhardt Oval with a point apiece after neither team found a winner in their 1-1 draw. 

Victory opened the scoring through another Rachel Lowe goal, in the first half, her sixth of the season now. Lowe provided a glancing header to complete defender Jamilla Rankin’s perfectly placed cross, which beat Perth Glory keeper Morgan Aquino and give Melbourne the lead.

The response from Perth came in the second half, when midfielder Hana Lowry delivered a corner kick to the mouth of the goal. While the ball did look to be on target for an Olimpico for Lowry, it took a final slight touch from Jamilla Rankin’s head before hitting the inside netting of the goal.

Both sides looked eager to score a final, winning goal, and bounce back from their losses last week, Perth through a long ranged effort from Claudia Mihocic that rattled the crossbar, and Melbourne through Rachel Lowe’s driving challenge that Aquino was able to palm away.

Even the return of Emily Gielnik to the field for Victory was unable to turn the tides for Melbourne. After weeks out on the sideline due to a calf injury, Gielnik saw her first minutes on the pitch since November. 

Gielnik’s best chance on goal from her cameo appearance was ruled offside after being saved by Aquino.

The result of this game leaves both teams’ position on the ladder unchanged, with Round 13 to come where Victory will travel to face Canberra United, and Glory will play host to Brisbane Roar.

Melbourne Victory (5-3-3):  Newbon, D’Appolonia, Hansen, Morrison, Checker, Rankin, Murphy, Kellond-Knight, Chidiac, Weinert, Lowe Substitutes: Candy, Zois, Curtis, Gielnik, Privitelli

Scorers: Lowe 28’, Rankin 60’ (OG)

Perth Glory (4-4-2): Aquino, Anton, Cowart, Mihocic, Rigby, Lowry, Dalton, Cassidy, Quezada, Farrow, Jale Substitutes: James, Sakalis, Lawrence, Johnston, Phonsongkham

Referee: Caitlin Williams

Attendance: TBC