“A win is the only option”
That’s the call-to-arms from forward Quinley Quezada ahead of Glory’s vital Liberty A-League clash with Central Coast Mariners at Macedonia Park on Sunday (kick-off at 7:30pm, tickets available HERE).
Watch her full pre-match interview HERE.
Victory over the Gosford side could propel the women in purple back into the top four, while they would slip out of the Finals places altogether should they suffer a defeat.
And that is a situation which has not been lost on Quezada.
“This week we have the mentality that winning is the only option we have,” she said.
“In each game we’re trying to put out the best team performance that we can, but as of right now where we are in the standings and where we want to be, a win is the only option.
“Right now we’re focused on being unified, really team-orientated and going after it.”
The Philippines international is also keenly aware of the threat posed by each and every one of the clubs in what is a fiercely competitive Liberty A-League this year.
“It makes it interesting, definitely, every week and that is just a testament to how good this league is and how good every team is,” she said.
“A team at the bottom can beat a team at the top, so you just never know.
“I think they [Central Coast Mariners] are a really good team and especially being new, I think they’re putting a challenge on every team that they face and we just have to be ready for it.”
At a personal level, meanwhile, Quezada feels that she has now found her feet in what is her maiden ALW campaign.
“I’ve been learning a lot from Alex [Epakis] and the girls and it’s been really good for me development-wise,” she said.
“I’m excited to be here.
“I feel like I’m getting back to where I want to be.
“The first part of the season was kind of rocky for me, but I’m getting back in form and just in time for Finals!”
And she has been particularly heartened by the backing the team have received at Macedonia Park.
“It’s honestly amazing and it can change a game,” she said.
“Just being in that environment; they’re all chanting Perth and I bet our opposition is scared every single time.
“It’s a really great environment for us and we feed off the energy that’s there.”
The Mariners will head across the country having secured a creditable 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory last time out to continue their recent upswing in form which has seen them lose just twice in their last seven outings.
The visitors’ main attacking threats this term have been Rola Badawiya and Wuri Gumula who have each bagged five goals, while Matildas midfielder Kyah Simon has added some extra stardust when she has been available and Ashley Irwin has been a reliable performer at the back.
Glory won 2-1 when the two sides met in Gosford on New Year’s Eve, while the only previous clash on WA soil ended in a 2-1 victory for the visitors back in November 2009.
Match Details
Liberty A-League 2023/24 Season Round 17
Perth Glory v Central Coast Mariners
Macedonia Park
Sunday 18 February 2024
Kick-off: 7.30pm WST
Perth Glory squad: 1.Morgan AQUINO (GK), 3.Jessika COWART, 4.Natasha RIGBY (c), 7.Liz ANTON, 8.Hana LOWRY, 9.Millie FARROW, 10.Susan PHONSONGKHAM, 12.Sofia SAKALIS, 13.Sarah CAIN, 14.Tia STONEHILL, 17.Abbey GREEN, 18.Sadie LAWRENCE, 19.Izzy FOLETTA, 20.Quinley QUEZADA, 22.Claudia MIHOCIC, 23.Isobel DALTON, 24.Sally JAMES (GK), 25.Grace JOHNSTON, 27.Georgia CASSIDY, 31.Clara HOARAU
Four to be omitted
Ins: 13.Sarah CAIN, 14.Tia STONEHILL, 18.Sadie LAWRENCE, 22.Claudia MIHOCIC
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 11.Grace JALE (international duty), 16.Isabella WALLHEAD (injured)
Central Coast Mariners squad: 1. Sarah LANGMAN, 2. Faye BRYSON, 3. Ash IRWIN, 4. Paige HAYWARD, 5. Annabel MARTIN, 8. Bianca GALIC, 9. WURIGUMULA, 10. Rola BADAWIYA, 11. Annalise RASMUSSEN, 12. Jazmin WARDLOW, 13. Alexia KARRYS-STAHL, 14. Sophie NENADOVIC, 16. Briana WOODALL, 17. Kyah SIMON, 19. Tiarna KARAMBASIS, 22. Peta TRIMIS, 24. Shay EVANS, 27. Maya LOBO, 33. Tess QUILLIGAN, 92. Casey DUMONT
Ins: 14. Sophie NEDADOVIC
Outs: 6. Isabel GOMEZ
Unavailable: 6. Isabel GOMEZ (suspended), 18. Taren KING (injured)
#ONEGlory
Match Details
Liberty A-League 2023/24 Season Round 17
Perth Glory v Central Coast Mariners
Macedonia Park
Sunday 18 February 2024
Kick-off: 7.30pm WST
Perth Glory squad: 1.Morgan AQUINO (GK), 3.Jessika COWART, 4.Natasha RIGBY (c), 7.Liz ANTON, 8.Hana LOWRY, 9.Millie FARROW, 10.Susan PHONSONGKHAM, 12.Sofia SAKALIS, 13.Sarah CAIN, 14.Tia STONEHILL, 17.Abbey GREEN, 18.Sadie LAWRENCE, 19.Izzy FOLETTA, 20.Quinley QUEZADA, 22.Claudia MIHOCIC, 23.Isobel DALTON, 24.Sally JAMES (GK), 25.Grace JOHNSTON, 27.Georgia CASSIDY, 31.Clara HOARAU
Four to be omitted
Ins: 13.Sarah CAIN, 14.Tia STONEHILL, 18.Sadie LAWRENCE, 22.Claudia MIHOCIC
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 11.Grace JALE (international duty), 16.Isabella WALLHEAD (injured)
Central Coast Mariners squad: 1. Sarah LANGMAN, 2. Faye BRYSON, 3. Ash IRWIN, 4. Paige HAYWARD, 5. Annabel MARTIN, 8. Bianca GALIC, 9. WURIGUMULA, 10. Rola BADAWIYA, 11. Annalise RASMUSSEN, 12. Jazmin WARDLOW, 13. Alexia KARRYS-STAHL, 14. Sophie NENADOVIC, 16. Briana WOODALL, 17. Kyah SIMON, 19. Tiarna KARAMBASIS, 22. Peta TRIMIS, 24. Shay EVANS, 27. Maya LOBO, 33. Tess QUILLIGAN, 92. Casey DUMONT
Ins: 14. Sophie NEDADOVIC
Outs: 6. Isabel GOMEZ
Unavailable: 6. Isabel GOMEZ (suspended), 18. Taren KING (injured)
#ONEGlory
