Perth SC 0-1 Perth RedStar
Report by Ben Gilby, photography from Rob Lizzi (21/9/24).
Above: Perth RedStar celebrate with the Top Four Cup yesterday after defeating Perth SC 1-0. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Rob Lizzi.
Perth RedStar earned their third successive NPLW WA Top Four Cup, and a fourth in five years thanks to Olivia Wood’s stunning goal just before the half-hour mark at the Sam Kerr Football Centre.
Carlos Vega Mena’s side had to overcome the additional challenge of playing an extra Final midweek against Balcatta Etna after losing to Perth SC in last Sunday’s Major Semi-Final for the right to progress directly to the season’s Grand Final.
If that wasn’t difficult enough, RedStar overcame Balcatta despite going behind twice, and earned their place in this showdown thanks to a sensational personal performance from Sarah Carroll who scored two and supplied the other in her side’s 3-2 win at Home Group Stadium.
This encounter had all the ingredients of a classic with the league’s two highest goal scorers, Ella Lincoln of Perth SC and Reina Kagami from Perth RedStar facing off, along with RedStar’s stats of having the league’s tightest defence.
The pre-game team news saw Perth SC make one change from the starting line-up from last weekend’s Major Semi-Final success over RedStar, with Tijan McKenna coming into midfield and Sam Mathers dropping down to the bench. RedStar also made one change from their midweek success, with Abbey Woolley moving down to the bench with Jayna Ridley coming in.
Perth SC went into the game with the confidence of two wins over their opponents in successive weeks in their bid to secure a first victory in the season-ending Grand Final. They started in a well-organised manner with captain Baxter Thew working hard to deny Wood any attacking opportunities.
The Azzurri began looking to maintain possession, playing across the field, patiently waiting to find the killer final ball. Whenever RedStar had the ball in this spell of the game, there were azure shirts surrounding them instantly.
Just after the 22-minute mark, McAllister had to leave the field due to injury, replaced by Mathers. The next major piece of action would be the one that ultimately decided this encounter.
With 27 minutes played, Reina Kagami played a pass forward for Wood. Thew cleared the initial danger from the RedStar attacker, but the ball was returned to the number 10 and Wood curled a trademark stunning shot from the edge of the box on the left into the top right-hand corner.
Perth looked to respond, and Ruby Marshall linked with Epril Nossent along the right to feed Lincoln, but Carroll cleared.
Penalty box entries for The Azzurri were now that bit fewer and further between as RedStar’s ascendancy was aided by the added intensity of their high press which was trying to force Perth into errors and reduce the impact that Lincoln could have on the game, as they made it exceptionally tough for the NPLW WA’s top scorer to make an impact on the game, which remained at 1-0 as the half-time whistle blew.
The Azzurri conjured up the first attacking opportunity of the second half with six minutes played. Cassidy set Lincoln free along the right to win a corner which was cleared by Anderson at the near post.
From here RedStar looked to turn the screw further as their game management made it increasingly harder for Perth to force Gabby Dal Busco into making any saves. Indeed, Carlos Vega Mena’s side came close with 54 minutes played as Jayna Ridley, on the left, fed Kagami ahead of her in a central position outside of the box. The Japanese star lifted a ball through for Wood who saw her shot roll just wide of the right hand post.
Whilst RedStar had the possession and territory at this stage, they were finding it tough to break through a resolute Azzurri back line, and Stacey Cavill had very few shots herself to save.
Into the final 20 minutes, and Perth upped the pace and passing crispness. Lincoln went on a mazy run, beating four red shirts that took her from the midfield to the edge of the box to find Wainwright before RedStar cleared.
Shortly afterwards, Grace Johnston threaded a beautifully weighted pass in for Lincoln to run onto. The attacker turned and shot, but Emily Dunn blocked.
There was one final half chance for the Azzurri to force extra time three minutes into stoppage time. Cassidy found Matilda Bohm to feed Lincoln at the back post, the attacker got a touch, but was unable to get a shot away, and a combination of Dal Busco and Andreia Teixeira got the ball away inside the six-yard box.
This was a superb achievement for Perth RedStar. History shows that the Finalist who are forced to play an extra game in midweek to qualify for the Grand Final are more often than not on the receiving end of a heavy defeat. But Carlos Vega Mena’s side once more stood strong when they needed to.
Whilst they have been challenged harder and suffered more defeats across the season and Top Four Cup than in previous years, they have still come out on top to win three of the four pieces of silverware available in 2024.
Perth SC and the rest of the chasing pack are getting closer – but RedStar end the year still with the upper hand.
More of Rob Lizzi’s photos from the Sam Kerr Football Centre
Teams: PERTH SC: Cavill, Thew, Nossent, McCartney, Bohm, Wainwright, McAllister, McKenna, Lincoln, Cassidy, Marshall. Substitutes: Ottobrino, Johnston (for Nossent 46′), Di Mattina, Harvey (for Wainwright 82′), Mathers (for McAllister 22’), Hannan, Atkinson.
PERTH REDSTAR: Dal Busco, Teixeira, Dunn, Anderson, Doan, Sakairi, Kagami, Carroll, Doeglas, Ridley, Wood. Substitutes: Woolley, Ritchie (for Ridley 82′), Continibali, Arai, Leota, Odonohoe, Bellanca.
Scorers: Wood 27’.
Referee: Alex Novatsis.
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