Glory grabbed two goals in the last four minutes to secure a dramatic, come-from-behind 2-1 win over Brisbane Roar in Saturday’s Liberty A-League season-opener at a raucous Macedonia Park.
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Anna Margraf’s neat first-half finish appeared set to secure all three points for the visitors as the full-time whistle approached, but there was to be a remarkable twist in the tale.
First, substitute Susan Phonsongkham steered home Gemma Craine’s cross to make it 1-1 in the 88th minute and then, two minutes into stoppage-time, Roar ‘keeper Georgina Worth could only help Jessie Rasschaert’s backpass into her own net, prompting wild celebrations among the majority of a bumper, 1000-strong crowd.
While the nature of their winner was bizarre, there was no doubt that Glory deserved something from a hard-fought contest and Head Coach Alex Epakis was understandably thrilled that his new-look side were able to claim all three points.
“I’m so stoked for so many reasons,” he said.
“For the players and especially the ones that were involved with last season’s campaign, that just puts to bed all the baggage.
“It’s just a fantastic foundation for us to build from as a group this season and I think it will do the world of good for the group.
“I think it was a typical Round One performance; there were ups and downs, but ultimately I always ask the players to just compete for 90 minutes and if you stay in the match and you compete long enough, you get opportunities like today where we had a little bit of luck.
“It was just enough to get us over the line, but we’ll improve as we go forward.
“The crowd was as good as the win.
“I’m so grateful for everyone that came out and I think we did a good job in marketing the group, the game and the new venue.
“I really, really enjoyed their support and I know the players did as well; it was a special feeling.”
Epakis handed debuts to five players in his matchday squad, including 16-year-old Poppie Hooks who came off the bench just short of the hour-mark and they all played their part in what was a committed and industrious performance from the hosts.
The opening quarter was light on clear-cut chances at either end and it therefore came as something of a surprise when Shea Connors’ low cross was clipped home by Margraf to put the Queenslanders in front.
A stinging free-kick from one of their debutants, Alana Jancevski, was the nearest Glory came to restoring parity before the break, the livewire forward’s effort skimming the bar and landing on the roof of the net.
Roar’s response came via the goalscorer Margraf who struck the frame of the goal just short of the hour-mark and Glory made the most of that let-off in the shadows of the final whistle.
Gemma Craine, making a welcome return from the hamstring injury which ended her 2020/21 campaign after just two games, got away down the right and picked out Phonsongkham who slid home from 12m out.
And the home fans had barely stopped celebrating when, under pressure from the tireless Craine, Rasschaert rolled the ball back to Worth who failed to control it and then looked on in despair as it squeezed its way over the line.
Match Details
Perth Glory 2 (Phonsongkham 88′, Worth (o.g.) 90+2′) Brisbane Roar 1 (Margraf 22′)
Half-time: 0-1
Macedonia Park
Referee: Rebecca Durcau
Perth Glory: 1.Morgan AQUINO (GK), 2.Sarah CARROLL (13.Sarah CAIN 73′), 3.Kim CARROLL, 4.Natasha RIGBY (C), 7.Liz ANTON, 8.Hana LOWRY, 11.Lisa DE VANNA ( 19.Poppie HOOKS 56′), 12.Sofia SAKALIS (5.Deborah-Anne DE LA HARPE 73′), 18.Sadie LAWRENCE, 23.Alana JANCEVSKI (10.Susan PHONSONGKHAM 73′), 24.Gemma CRAINE
Substitutes not used: 20.Courtney NEWBON (GK)
Yellow Cards: Rigby
Red Cards: None
Brisbane Roar: 1.Georgina WORTH, 2.Anna MARGRAF (24.Ellen GETT 84′), 3.Jessie RASSCHAERT, 5.Jamilla RANKIN, 7.Ayesha NORRIE (c), 8.Mariel HECHER, 9.Larissa CRUMMER (10.Katrina GORRY 68′), 12.Shea CONNORS, 14.Rie KITANO (V 68′), 18.Annabel HAFFENDEN, 22.Cannon CLOUGH
Substitutes not used: 20.Lanni MCDOUGALL, 21.Mia BAILEY (GK)
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
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