Glory remain firmly in the race for a Liberty A-League Finals berth after securing a battling 1-1 away draw with Newcastle Jets on Sunday afternoon.
View full match highlights HERE
After a Natasha Prior own-goal handed them a second-minute lead, Alex Epakis’ side were grateful to goalkeeper Morgan Aquino who made a string of fine saves to keep the Jets at bay.
She was powerless, however, to keep out a well-struck effort from Mindy Barbieri early in the second half which ultimately earned the hosts a share of the spoils.
The result means that with four games left to play, Glory sit level on points with sixth-placed Newcastle, but below them by virtue of goal difference.
On an afternoon of high temperatures and high stakes at the Maitland Regional Sports Ground, the visitors could hardly have enjoyed a better start as skipper Tash Rigby got away down the right and delivered a low cross which Prior could only divert past Izzy Nino into the net.
Seemingly unfazed by that early setback, however, the Jets proceeded to look the more likely for much of the first half, with Aquino forced to deny Barbieri and Sarina Bolden in quick succession and a number of other efforts flying narrowly wide or over the bar.
Barbieri and Bolden continued to trouble the Glory defence as the second period got underway, Aquino keeping out a strike from the former with a sprawling save low to her left and then going full length to tip a header from the latter around the post.
The outcome of the game, however, was ultimately determined in the space of four dramatic minutes which began with substitute Sofia Sakalis failing to find the net having been teed up on the break by Grace Jale.
Prior made amends for her earlier error by sliding in to block the midfielder’s goalbound shot and the Jets almost immediately took full advantage at the other end.
Hammond’s cross from the right eventually found its way to Barbieri occupying a pocket of space on the penalty spot and she rifled a crisp half-volley past Aquino to make it 1-1.
The drama continued right into stoppage-time, Millie Farrow having a penalty appeal waved away after going to ground under pressure from Hammond and Aquino producing a stunning, one-handed save to block a close-range strike from substitute Josie Allan.
Ultimately, however, the two sides could not be separated and their ongoing battle to claim a Finals spot looks set to be just as tightly contested.
Match Details
Liberty A-League 2023/24 Season Round 18
Newcastle Jets 1 (Barbieri 77′) Perth Glory 1 (Prior (o.g.) 2′)
Half-time: 0-1
Maitland Regional Sports Ground
Sunday 3 March 2024
Referee: Isabella Mossin
Newcastle Jets: 1. Izzy NINO (GK), 4. Natasha PRIOR, 6. Cassidy DAVIS, 9. MelindaJ BARBIERI, 10. Libby COPUS-BROWN, 11. Sarina BOLDEN, 13. Lauren ALLAN (26. Josie ALLAN 90+3′), 18. Sophie HOBAN (24.Milan HAMMOND 71′), 22. Lorena BAUMANN, 23. Zoe KARIPIDIS, 28. Emma DUNDAS
Substitutes not used: 7. Gema SIMON, 15. Alex HUYNH, 31.Lily-Rose DUNBAR (GK)
Yellow Cards: Hammond
Red Cards: None
Perth Glory: 1.Morgan AQUINO (GK), 3.Jessika COWART, 4.Natasha RIGBY (c), 7.Liz ANTON, 8.Hana LOWRY, 10.Susan PHONSONGKHAM (12.Sofia SAKALIS 63′), 11.Grace JALE, 19.Izzy FOLETTA (9.Millie FARROW 58′), 20.Quinley QUEZADA (14.Tia STONEHILL 83′), 22.Claudia MIHOCIC (13.Sarah CAIN 46′), 23.Isobel DALTON
Substitutes not used: 24.Sally JAMES (GK)
Yellow Cards: Quezada, Farrow
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
