By Kieran Yap 19/2/4
Above: Kyah Simon scores for Central Coast Mariners. Photo: Central Coast Mariners
Kyah Simon’s first goal since returning to the A-League Women helped Central Coast Mariners to a 3-1 win and continue Perth Glory’s recent struggles.
Emily Husband’s visiting team was able to overcome a first half deficit with a strong display of confident counterattacking football, it leaves Perth Glory with only one win from their last eight games, and none since the end of December.
Simon started in attack for The Mariners, partnering Rola Badawiya and supported by Young Matilda Peta Trimis. The star recruit came close to opening the scoring early with a well-directed header from Faye Bryson’s cross. Morgan Aquino produced a typically athletic save to keep Glory from conceding.
The home side were given a boost in the 25th minute when Millie Farrow fired home from a Sofia Sakalis cross. She controlled the dropping ball expertly and struck the half volley beyond Sarah Langman to make it 1-0.
Central Coast’s game plan was not affected by Glory’s goal and they continued to attack. The pace of Bryson and the presence of Badawiya continued to trouble the Glory defence who were still missing Claudia Mihocic in the middle. Bryson sent in multiple crosses from the right that Perth scrambled to clear, and their luck would eventually run out in the shadows of half time.
After winning a free kick, Bianca Galic delivered a dangerous ball to the edge of the six yard box. Kyah Simon timed her jump to perfection to direct the ball past Aquino and level the scores in injury time. Just moments before Simon had crashed a shot off the post in a warning to Glory that she was getting back to her best.
With Glory eager to push forward and retake the lead, the Mariners were able to play their preferred game plan in the second half. They defend relatively deep, press in midfield and look to release their forwards or overlapping fullbacks as soon as possible. But even though Emily Husband’s tactics were working to keep the game on their terms, the eventual goals came through individual moments.
Galic put The Mariners ahead in the 76th minute. The midfielder shrugged off one tackle, forced her way through another and scored with a long range effort from her left boot. The goal was a suitable reward for an industrious and creative performance in the heart of midfield.
Less than 10 minutes later, the result was sealed by substitute Annelise Rasmussen. After evading challenges at the edge of the 18-yard box, her shot through traffic somehow squirmed beyond Aquino and condemned Glory to a sixth defeat for the season.
The loss sees Glory drop to eighth place on the ladder. They are by no means out of contention yet, and are only out of the finals places having won less games then sixth placed Newcastle, but their form is concerning as are their struggles to gain control within games. On paper, Alex Epakis’s side has the talent to beat most teams, but they have looked susceptible to pace, especially out wide, an issue exasperated by the absence of Grace Jale on international duty with New Zealand.
Glory’s attack and midfield might be shaken up by moving Hana Lowry further forward. Her passing range is a huge part of their plan to move the ball from defence to attack, but in the opening half of the season, Lowry was able to get into the attacking third more where her guile and power could trouble defenders. Similarly to how Melbourne City have moved Daniela Galic around the pitch to keep the opposition guessing, Lowry could be utilised to support the still enviable attacking stocks of Saklis, Farrow and Susan Phonsongkham.
The Mariners win puts them up to fifth on the table, and they look like a side enjoying their football. There is little external pressure on the leagues newest side, but the players look confident in what they can produce and have moved beyond the caution of the early rounds to take games to opposition even away from home.
Trimis had a quieter match by her now lofty standards, but the 17 year old has been a real discovery this season. Her pace is obvious, but her instinct of when to release the ball is more impressive, especially for a player who began the season as a scholarship player. Her decision making helped release Bryson who was a repeated menace to Glory’s defence all game.
The Mariners also have depth on the bench, and chemistry in midfield. With Simon returning to form and fitness, they have a genuine X-Factor with winning experience in attack. Trimis will miss the next few games while with The Young Matildas, but they have the players to score against any defence.
After the international break, The Mariners will face a resurgent Adelaide United, while Perth Glory will try to bounce back away to Newcastel Jets.
Teams:
Perth Glory 4-2-4-: Aquino, Rigby, Cowart, Anton, Johnston, Dalton, Lowry, Sakalis, Phonsongkham, Farrow, Quezada. Substitutes: Green, Lawrence, Foletta, Cassidy, James.
Scorers: Farrow 25’
Central Coast Mariners 4-2-3-1: Langman, Bryson, Irwin, Wardlow, Martin, Karambasis, Quilligan, Badawiya, Trimis, Galic, Simon. Substitutes: Hayward, Wurigumula, Rasmussen, Karrys-Stahl, Dumont.
Scorers: Simon 45’, Galic 76’ Rasumussen 83’
Referee: Bec Mackie
Attendance: TBC
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