Adelaide United 2-1 Perth Glory
by Jonathon Hagger (27/1/24)
Above: Adelaide United celebrate a goal in their excellent win today. Photo: Adelaide United.
Perth Glory’s recent disappointing run of form continued after doing down to defeat at Adelaide United, who started the day bottom of the table. It was a result that continued the Glory’s poor run in South Australia where they are without a win since December 2016.
The opening five minutes of the match had both the Adelaide and Perth teams settling into their respective styles of play. While the completed passes from both sides were crisp, the ability to retain possession eluded both teams, The fifth minute of play saw some fantastic strategic passing that bamboozled the Adelaide defence putting Perth’s Hana Lowry into a one-on-one challenge with Adelaide’s keeper Annalee Grove who safely secured the ball.
The match soon settled into a repeating pattern of each side advancing the ball down the pitch but no real goal-scoring opportunities becoming apparent. Perth were the more dominant team in terms of field placement however Adelaide’s midfield were up to the challenge, repeatedly keeping Perth’s attackers at bay.
Eventually the pressure exerted by Perth was too much for Adelaide resulting in a wide-open Lowry connecting with a well-played volley from Liz Anton in the 22nd minute. In the build-up play Perth’s high pressing forced an error from Adelaide which cost them the goal.
After a settled period of play, the Adelaide team turned up the offensive heat, becoming more creative in their attacking style, playing precise long passes through Perth’s midfield lines. This strategy kept the visitors on the back foot until a magnificent cross from Chelsie Dawber to Isabel Hodgson who narrowly missed lodging the ball in the bottom left corner in the 33rd minute.
Hannah Blake, formerly a Glory player, carved open her former teammates with a stellar run up the middle of the pitch in the 46th minute finding teammate Isabel Hodgson just onside inside the goal area however Perth’s goalkeeper, Morgan Aquino, was up to the challenge and made a clean save. The extended period of extra time resulted in an equalising goal to Adelaide as another former Perth star, Alana Jancevski, threaded a pass to Isabel Hodgson who sweetly tapped a loose ball into the bottom of the net.
Adelaide could be well pleased with their patient and progressive approach to the match. Even though they went down a goal early on, they worked their back into the match. Perth on the other hand would be looking to improve both the quantity and quality when in possession.
In a stunning turn of events, a goal keeper error in the opening minutes of the second half resulted in Adelaide securing the lead. A rather innocuous shot on goal by Nanako Sasaki was fumbled by the usually exceptional Aquino and dribbled over the line.
From this point on, the hosts sought to capitalise on their momentum unleashing repeated waves of attack led by Isobel Hodgson. Perth were certainly not going to give up and they too ratcheted up the energy levels.
Where Perth introduced substitute players in the 60th minute, Adelaide decided to wait a little longer before making changes. The energy of the newly introduced Susan Phongsongkhan into the attack for Perth didn’t quite achieve the goal of scoring. Many of the Perth players appeared to struggle with the pace of the match, resulting in defensive gaps and lapses creating space for Adelaide.
A wonderful counterattack play launched from within the Adelaide half by Dylan Holmes in the 73rd minute resulted in a very close goal opportunity that somehow wasn’t put into the Perth net.
The final few minutes of play were a torrid affair with both teams looking to score. Both sides pressed hard to score again as the ball travelled from end to end of the pitch with incredible speed.
A 2-1 win over a very talented Perth side is a win they can be very proud of. Having dominated most of the match and all the key statistical elements, Adelaide deservedly secured the win.
Adelaide at home are not a side to be taken lightly. They’ve now beaten both Wellington Phoenix and Perth Glory, both teams with much better records. Perth they need to figure out how to win regularly again.
Teams: ADELAIDE UNITED (4-3-3): Grove, E. Hodgson, Tonkin, Tolland, Waldus, Sasaki, Holmes, Javcevski, Blake, Dawber, I. Hodgson. Substitutes: Wilson, Morgan (83’), Mullan (83’), Holtz.(86’), Panagaris (88’).
Scorers: I. Hodgson 45+4′, Sasaki 47′.
PERTH GLORY (4-3-3): Aquino, Cowart, Rigby, Anton, Mihocic, Lowry, Dalton, Cassidy, Farrow, Jale, Sakalis. Substitutes James, Foletta, Lawrence (61’), Quezada, Phongsongkham (61’).
Scorer: Lowry 23′.
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