Kelli Brown’s stoppage-time penalty secured a deserved away point for Glory as they fought out a 1-1 draw with Western Sydney Wanderers at Wanderers Football Park on Friday evening.
View full match highlights HERE
Stephen Peters’ side created the better chances throughout a contest which burst into life after a cagey opening quarter and yet looked set to return home pointless after Amy Harrison’s free-kick gave Wanderers the lead with just four minutes of normal time remaining.
Showing exactly the kind of dogged determination that they have displayed all season, however, Glory duly laid siege to the home goal and were eventually rewarded right at the death when substitute Miku Sunaga was clattered by Wanderers ‘keeper Sham Khamis and Brown held her nerve to convert from the spot.
Both sides took a while to settle on what was a warm evening in Sydney’s west, but as the first half wore on, Glory steadily began to look the more likely.
Having enjoyed a let-off when Cushla Rue headed wastefully wide from right in front of goal, Stephen Peters’ side immediately created two decent chances of their own.
The first fell to Brown whose header flew over after Gabby Hollar had flicked on a long throw from Megan Wynne at the near post.
And Wynne then latched on to a fine pass from Brown, only to see her angled shot brilliantly blocked by the sliding Ella Buchanan.
Wanderers made the livelier start to the second half, but Glory continued to create the better opportunities and only a fine parry from Khamis prevented Brown from firing her side in front on the hour-mark.
Home skipper Harrison then managed to clear a Sunaga effort off the line before making an even more valuable contribution at the other end as the clock ticked towards 90 minutes.
Naomi Chinnama was penalised for bringing down Amy Chessari right on the edge of the box and Harrison stepped up to curl the resulting free-kick around the wall and into the net via the foot of the post.
Brown and Gabby Hollar both went close as Glory duly launched a furious late charge for an equaliser, while skipper Onyi Zogg was also denied in a goalmouth scramble.
But just as Western Sydney appeared set to weather the storm, Sunaga reacted quickest to chase down a loose ball in the box before being pole-axed by the onrushing Khamis and Brown slotted home the penalty to secure a thoroughly deserved share of the spoils.
Match Details
Ninja A-League 2024/25 Season Round 7
Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (Harrison 86′) Perth Glory 1 (Brown (pen) 90+6′)
Half-time: 0-0
Wanderers Football Park
Friday 20 December 2024
Referee: Rachel Mitchenson
Western Sydney Wanderers: 20. Sham KHAMIS (gk), 3. Gemma FERRIS, 6. Amy CHESSARI, 7. Amy HARRISON (C), 9. Sophie HARDING, 10. Sienna SAVESKA (8. Olivia PRICE 79′), 11. Danika MATOS, 14. Ella BUCHANAN, 15. Cushla RUE (12. Bronte TREW 80′), 19. Talia YOUNIS (13. Talia KAPETANELLIS 69′), 37. Ena HARADA
Substitutes not used: 5. Milly BENNETT, 31. Keely SEGAVCIC (gk)
Yellow Cards: Harding, Khamis
Red Cards: None
Perth Glory: 1.Casey DUMONT, 5.Grace JOHNSTON, 6.Tijan MCKENNA (18.Isabella FOLETTA 86′), 7.Megan WYNNE (17.Morgan ROBERTS 80′), 8.Georgia CASSIDY, 9.Gabby HOLLAR, 13.Naomi CHINNAMA, 20.Ella ABDUL MASSIH (14.Miku SUNAGA 70′), 27.Charli WAINWRIGHT (11.Natalie TATHEM 46′) 29.Onyinyechi ZOGG (co-c), 44.Kelli BROWN
Substitutes not used: 21.Miranda TEMPLEMAN (gk)
Yellow Cards: Chinnama, Johnston
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
