Rylee Baisden grabbed both goals as Glory fought out a thrilling 2-2 draw with Newcastle Jets in Saturday’s Liberty A-League Round 3 clash at the No.2 Sportsground.
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The American forward opened her account for the club by converting a cross from compatriot Cyera Hintzen shortly before half-time and then headed Glory back in front in the 58th minute after Laura Allan had equalised for the hosts.
Newcastle substitute Ashlee Brodigan duly made it 2-2 and as both sides pressed for a winner during a frantic finale, it was Glory who came closest to finding it when Baisden crashed a shot against the underside of the cross bar.
Head Coach Alex Epakis felt that there were plenty of positives to take out of the game, notably how dangerous his side looked going forward and he was understandably full of praise for two-goal Baisden.
“My initial thoughts are that we played well enough to get the win, but we just didn’t do enough to shut them out,” he said.
“When you go up twice and don’t win, you end up feeling a bit flat afterwards, but it is what it is and we keep moving forward.
“I didn’t really feel like we were under pressure [in the first half].
“We did concede a little bit of possession and shots against us, but going in at half time, the team was pretty comfortable.
“The first-half performance didn’t say much about what it actually felt like out there.
“[Rylee] had a huge influence on the game.
“Once she scored her first goal, her performance went to another level in other areas of her game.
“She’s a real asset and she’ll continue to be an asset as the season goes on.
“I felt that a few players definitely had a good game in attacking areas and we had threats all across the field which is a positive.
“We’ll continue to work on our craft and what we’re doing.
“We’ve got an internal belief that when we’re performing at our best for long enough, we’ll compete with anyone.
“[Next week’s opponents] Victory will be a good team to play against and we’re looking forward to it.”
While it was the Jets who made the faster start, they managed to seriously test Sarah Langman in the Glory goal just once when Tessa Tamplin let fly from outside the box shortly after the half-hour mark.
Instead it was the women in white who broke the deadlock in the shadows of half-time, Hintzen delivering an inviting cross to the far post where Baisden gleefully volleyed home.
Nine minutes into the second half, Newcastle drew level as the impressive Allan showed great strength to force her way in on goal and calmly slot home.
But moments later, Glory restored their lead when Isabella Wallhead crossed from the left and Baisden’s deft, glancing header left Sarah Worth in the Jets goal grasping at thin air.
The chances continued to flow as the game moved into its final quarter, Cyera Hintzen and Tara Andrews each going close with headers at either end and Baisden firing over the bar when well placed.
It was the Jets who eventually managed to find a way through with 77 minutes on the clock, Sophie Stapleford’s long ball enabling Brodigan to get a sight of goal and pick out the bottom corner.
The woodwork then denied Baisden a hat-trick and substitute Alana Jancevski fizzed a low shot narrowly wide in stoppage-time as Epakis’ side came agonisingly close to claiming all three points.
Match Details
Liberty A-League 2022/23 Season Round 3
Newcastle Jets 2 (Allan 54′, Brodigan 77′) Perth Glory 2 (Baisden 42′, 58′)
Half-time: 0-1
No.2 Sportsground
Referee: Caitlin Williams
Newcastle Jets: 1. Georgina WORTH (gk), 3. Emily GARNIER, 6. Cass DAVIS, 9. Tara ANDREWS (10. Sophie STAPLEFORD 70′), 11. Tessa TAMPLIN, 12. Murphy AGNEW, 13. Lauren ALLAN (19. Ashlee BRODIGAN 70′), 14. Lucy JOHNSON (29. Adriana KONJARSKI 87′), 15. Sarah GRIFFITH, 18. Taren KING, 22. Cannon CLOUGH
Substitutes not used: 5. Leia PUXTY, 20. Claire COELHO (gk)
Yellow Cards: Griffith
Red Cards: None
Perth Glory: 20.Sarah LANGMAN (gk), 3.Kim CARROLL, 4.Natasha RIGBY (c), 7.Liz ANTON, 8.Hana LOWRY, 11.Rylee BAISDEN (23.Alana JANCEVSKI 85′), 13.Sarah CAIN, 15.Cyera HINTZEN (10.Susan PHONSONGKHAM 85′), 16.Isabella WALLHEAD, 21.Ella MASTRANTONIO (12.Sofia SAKALIS 89′), 42.Gabriella COLEMAN (9.Demi KOULIZAKIS 61′)
Substitutes not used: 1.Morgan AQUINO (gk)
Yellow Cards: Phonsongkham
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
