Perth Glory 0-0 Brisbane Roar
By Kieran Yap 20/1/24
Above: Quinley Quezada tries to break free for Perth Glory
Despite a number of good chances on both sides, having two of the league’s best goalkeepers at either end meant that the draw between Perth Glory and Brisbane Roar was a fitting result.
Glory went into this game sitting second on the ladder but needing a win. Alex Epakis’s side had won just once in the last five games, but have also conceded just three times in that run. After a strong start to the season, wins have been harder to come by, although performances have not dipped. That defensive record has contributed to Glory having only lost three times so far this season. It is an enviable position, and against the visiting Roar they needed every bit of luck and skill to avoid a fourth.
The Roar came to town with boasting an in-form Mia Corbin and Tameka Yallop. The former Parma striker has six goal to her name so far, while the Matildas great has recently found her fitness and form after an interrupted start to the season.
Up the other end, Glory’s attack was spearheaded as usual by Millie Farrow. The English attacker has so far been one of the signings of the season and her electric pace, combined with inventive dribbling make her a difficult match up for any team.
Ordinarily, the prospect of two effervescent attacks going up against each other would be reason to expect goals. However, this match had Jordan Silkowitz up one end, and Morgan Aquino at the other. The Goal’s Against column on the table does not tell the whole story, these are two of the best goalkeepers in the league right now, and both put on a show at Macedonia Park.
Brisbane had the better chances of the first half. Hollie Palmer tried her luck from long range, before a Yallop effort skimmed wide of the post. The Roar playmaker appealed for a handball, but on viewing the replay it appeared that Claudia Mihocic would have been very unlucky to have conceded a penalty from that.
Quinley Quezada came close to opening the scoring for Perth. Her curling effort looked destined for the top corner but did not dip in time, although it was close enough to have Silkowitz scrambling.
Yallop created what was the best chande up until that point. After cutting inside from the left, she looked certain to score, but Aquino was well positioned to gather the low shot. Roar looked to have taken the lead after a set piece was bundled over from close range, but referee Mikayla Ryan was right on the spot and immediately blew for a foul before Brisbane could start to celebrate.
The action peaked right on half time, one minute Isobel Dalton had a great chance to put Perth Glory ahead, but was stopped by Silkowitz, then almost immediately after Natasha Rigby handled the ball in the penalty area. Up stepped Brisbane captain Ayesha Norrie to deliver the 45th minute spot kick.
It was Norrie’s chance to send the visitors into the break 1-0 up, but Aquino is in hard to beat form and dove well to bat the effort away. It was just the latest in a growing list of Aquino highlights this season, at just 22 years old, she has emerged as one of Australia’s brightest goalkeeping prospects, comfortably alongside the likes of Jada Whyman, Annalee Grove and Chloe Lincoln. Her performances this season have meant that Sally James has struggled for opportunities and is having a season comparable to Casey Dumont’s at Melbourne Victory last year.
The chances continued in the second half. Sharn Freier blazed over with the goal at her mercy and Georgia Cassidy set up an attack for the home side with a terrific long ball that was snuffed out by desperate Brisbane defending.
The home side’s best opportunity for the match came when Farrow beat Silkowitz to a long ball and rounded the onrushing goalkeeper. Her touch took her wide of the goal, but her eventual close range shot was unable to be both on target and beat a lunging Holly McQueen who came sliding in to Brisbane’s rescue.
Farrow had one last chance to win the match after creating space for herself in the box, but her left footed shot from less than 10 yards out well blocked by the impassible Silkowitz.
Both sides will be disappointed with a 0-0 result, Roar looked to have dominated play but were unable to finish off their many promising attacks, Glory would have expected to win at home and had the opportunities to do so. This match was decided by the goalkeepers and you could toss a coin to decide who was best afield.
The bigger picture is that things appear to be clicking for Brisbane. Against most other sides they would have scored at least twice and they set up their midfield and strikers to try and take use Perth’s ability to play out from deep against them.
On the other side, Glory’s season is by now means off the rails, but they now have one win in six games, and although the toll of the travel schedule will eventually appear in a Perth season, they need to be winning their home games, and are playing well enough to do so. This was an opportunity missed.
They are not the only side struggling to find a cutting edge in front of goal this season, but they are interesting in that they had it and have seemingly lost it, at least temporarily. However, the chances are being made, multiple players are stepping up to create them (this was an excellent display of deep playmaking by Georgia Cassidy) and they should be able to find the net with regularity again soon.
Teams:
Perth Glory 4-3-3: Aquino (GK), Rigby, Mihocic, Cowart, Anton, Dalton, Lowry, Cassidy, Quezada, Jale, Farrow. Substitutes: Phonsongkham, Sakalis, Lawrence, James, Johnston.
Brisbane Roar 4-3-3: Silkowitz (GK), De La Harpe, Cuthbert, McCormick, McQueen, Palmer, Norrie, Yallop, Stephenson, Corbin, Freier. Substitutes: Kirkup, Levin, Davies, Richards, Thompson
Referee: Mikayla Ryan
Attendance: 1205
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