Perth Glory stay top of the Westfield W-League with only their second-ever win over Sydney FC courtesy of a hat-trick from Rosie Sutton on another scorching day at nib Stadium.
The build up to the game was focussed on the noticeable absentees from both sides with a total of eight Matildas missing from the starting line-ups through injury or international duty. Despite this, the game was of a high standard with both sides attacking throughout the 90 minutes in the heat.
Glory opened the scoring in the 18th minute after a corner from returning Matilda Aivi Luik deflected off Sutton and through the legs of Sydney keeper Sian McLaren.
Sydney managed to pull one back within a minute through Chloe Logarzo, who troubled the Perth Glory defence throughout the match. The ball came back off Carly Telford in goals for Perth and Logarzo had an open goal to poke the ball into.
Both teams had a couple of half chances each, but Telford and McLaren were determined to keep their respective sides in the game.
Sydney came out of half time the stronger side and Logarzo missed a chance which would have been easier to score after terrific play down the wing from Larissa Crummer. Logarzo put the ball over the crossbar six yards out from goal.
Emma Kete had the chance to score against her old club on the hour mark after she went around Glory keeper Telford, but failed to keep her chipped effort on target.
Six minutes later Sydney had a penalty shout dismissed by referee Rebecca Durcau, despite the ball clearly making contact with a stray arm from stand in captain Sasha Andrews.
The let off seemed to inspire Perth and on the 74th minute Sutton grabbed her second goal of the match. A ball in from the left wing by Marianna Tabain found the head of Sutton who calmly beat McLaren.
Sutton wasn-t done there after Glory weathered a Sydney comeback she broke free in the centre and rounder McLaren to slot home her third and final goal.
Glory lost to Sydney 11-0 in this fixture last year, an inspirational turnaround from Jamie Harnwell-s team in a short space of time.
Sutton was pleased with her team mates- performances and was positive about the team.
“I was over the moon with the team-s performance; to get a hat trick was just a bonus. Everyone had to step up with the Matildas out and I-m just glad to do my part for the team,” she said.
“Now we-ve got next week off, so we should be refreshed for our next match against Western Sydney and hopefully get our own back after they beat us last time.”
The hat-trick gives Harnwell a bit of a managerial headache with the returning Matildas next match coming into a squad that performed very well.
Perth Glory 3 Rosie SUTTON (18-, 74-, 84-)
Sydney FC 1 (Chloe LOGARZO 19-)
nib Stadium
Saturday 17 November, 2012
Crowd: 1,327
Perth Glory: 1. Carly TELFORD (GK), 3. Carys HAWKINS, 4. Bronwyn STUDMAN (10. Jaymee GIBBONS 80-), 5. Shannon MAY, 6. Sasha ANDREWS (c), 7. Aivi LUIK, 8. Ella MASTRANTONIO, 9. Rosie SUTTON, 13. Elisa D-OVIDIO (2. Sarah CARROLL 70-), 15. Elizabeth MILNE, 17. Marianna TABAIN (19. Shawn BILLAM 90+1-)
Unused substitutes: 20. Zoe PALANDRI
Yellow cards: Ella MASTRANTONIO (25-)
Red cards: Nil
Sydney FC: 1. Sian MCLAREN (GK), 2. Teresa POLIAS (c), 3. Elizabeth RALSTON, 7. Nicola BOLGER, 10. Renee ROLLASON, 11. Annalie LONGO (5. Meg MCLAUGHLIN 79-), 12. Chloe LOGARZO, 13. Larissa CRUMMER, 15. Hannah BROMLEY, 19. Emma KETE, 22. Lillie BILSON (21. Kylie LEDBROOK 58-)
Unused substitutes: 8. Amy HARRISON, 20. Shamiran KHAMIS
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil
