Glory slipped to their first defeat of the Westfield W-League season on Friday as a Makenzy Doniak hat-trick helped Adelaide United run out 3-1 winners at the Marden Sports Complex.
Perhaps jaded by the short turnaround from last weekend’s game at Brisbane, Bobby Despotovski’s side started slowly in humid conditions and found themselves 2-0 down inside the opening half-hour.
And although they rallied early in the second half and forced their way back into the contest courtesy of Emma Checker’s bizarre own-goal, Doniak added a third against the run of play late on to seal a first win of the campaign for the South Australians.
Glory, who made the trip without skipper Sam Kerr after she succumbed to a quad injury, enjoyed plenty of possession at times but were unable to replicate the attacking verve that had seen them fire four goals past both Melbourne City and Brisbane Roar in the opening two rounds of the season.
Adelaide hit the front with their very first attack of the game as Doniak embarked upon a lung-bursting run from deep inside her own half, combined with fellow-American Adriana Jones on the edge of the Glory box and then fired a low shot past the helpless Mel Maizels.
And shortly after Glory had been forced into a defensive reshuffle by an injury to Sarah Carroll, the home side doubled their advantage.
Once again Jones provided the assist and this time Doniak applied an even better finish as she found the bottom corner from a tight angle.
Although they enjoyed the majority of the possession in the first half, Glory looked a little flat and were restricted to a couple of speculative long-range efforts from Rachel Rodriguez and Shannon May.
They started the second half at a much higher tempo, however and soon halved the arrears, albeit in slightly fortuitous circumstances.
Hill showed great pace to get away down the right, but her low cross appeared to pose no danger to the home defence until Checker, who had been otherwise impressive, contrived to slice the ball into her own net from 15 yards out.
The visitors continued to apply the pressure as the half wore on, with Hill particularly lively on the right and Rodriguez a commanding presence in central midfield.
But just as the equaliser seemed certain to come, Glory were hit by a sucker punch when they failed to deal with an Emily Hodgson cross from the right and Doniak turned neatly before sweeeping a low drive past Maizels.
Substitute Danielle Brogan almost snatched a consolation goal for the WA side right at the death, only for home ‘keeper Eliza Campbell to keep out her well-struck, 20-yard effort with a fine save.
Match Details
Westfield W-League 2017/18 Season Round 3
Adelaide United 3 (Doniak 4′, 31′, 74′) Perth Glory 1 (Checker o.g. 50′)
Half-time: 2-0
Referee: Lara Lee
Adelaide United: 1.Eliza CAMPBELL (GK), 2.Emily HODGSON, 3.Makenzy DONIAK (12.Chelsie DAWBER 90′), 4.Alyssa MAUTZ, 5.Jenna McCORMICK, 6.Georgia CAMPAGNALE, 9.Adriana JONES (8.Emily CONDON 71′), 10.Alex CHIDIAC (13.Nora PEAT 85′), 15.Emma CHECKER (c), 24.Danielle COLAPRICO, 25.Katie NAUGHTON
Substitutes not used: 20.Sarah WILLACY (GK)
Yellow cards: Doniak 86′
Red cards: None
Perth Glory: 18.Melissa MAIZELS (GK), 2.Sarah CARROLL (5.Patricia CHARALAMBOUS 28′), 3.Kim CARROLL, 4.Natasha RIGBY, 8.Shawn BILLAM, 9.Rachel HILL, 10.Raquel RODRIGUEZ, 11. Nicola BOLGER (6.Danielle BROGAN 77′), 12.Shannon MAY, 16.Amanda FRISBIE, 17.Marianna TABAIN (13.Jaymee GIBBONS 53′)
Substitutes not used: 24. Morgan AQUINO (GK)
Yellow cards: None
Red cards: None
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