Millie Farrow bagged a sensational hat-trick as Glory returned to the top of the Liberty A-League table with a 3-1 statement win over title favourites Melbourne City at Genis Steel Stadium on Saturday.
View full match highlights HERE.
Alex Epakis’ side showed their character as well as their class, battling their way back into the game after Hannah Wilkinson had headed the hosts into a 17th-minute lead.
Farrow restored parity on the half-hour, finishing neatly having been played in on goal by a fine through-ball from Quinley Quezada.
And the English import put the women in white ahead six minutes into the second half, this time steering home a Liz Anton cross from the left.
But she saved the best for last, sealing her hat-trick and the three points by racing onto a long ball, leaving the City defence trailing in her week and then showing great composure to round home ‘keeper Lysianne Proulx and roll the ball into the unguarded net.
The victory, their fifth of the season, saw Glory leapfrog their opponents and reclaim top spot on goal difference and left Epakis understandably thrilled.
Listen to his full post-match interview HERE.
“I’m stoked for the players,” he said.
“We were pretty focused in the last two weeks on the idea of having a positive response [to the defeat against Wellington Phoenix] and they went above and beyond that today.
“I’m so happy for Millie for the goals, but it’s just her overall performance today; I’m so happy for her.
“If we focus like that week in, week out, we give ourselves the chance to do something really special this season.”
On a wet afternoon in the Victorian capital, Glory found themselves on the back foot in the early stages and fell behind when Tijan McKenna’s cross was headed home by Wilkinson.
15 minutes later, however, they were back on terms as Quezada found Farrow with a defence-splitting pass and after skipping past Proulx, she found the net from a tight angle.
The visitors were grateful for two crucial blocks in quick succession from Liz Anton early in the second half as Dario Vidosic’s side again came flying out of the blocks, before Farrow once more took centre-stage.
This time the 27-year-old showed her predatory instincts in the box, adjusting her feet quickly to steer home a teasing low cross supplied by Anton whose contribution at both ends of the pitch was nothing short of immense.
Morgan Aquino was then called into action to keep out a strike from home substitute Emina Ekic, but any thoughts of a tense finale unfolding were effectively dismissed when Farrow pounced once again to make it 3-1.
Her third goal was all about raw pace as she raced clear of Karly Roestbakken and the rest of the home defence, sat Proulx down with a clever feint and rolled the ball in to seal one of the most impressive away wins in the club’s recent history.
Match Details
Liberty A-League 2023/24 Season Round 7
Melbourne City 1 (Wilkinson 17′) Perth Glory 3 (Farrow 32′, 51′, 71′)
Half-time: 1-1
Genis Steel Stadium
Referee: Kate Jacewicz
Melbourne City: 44. Lysianne PROULX (GK), 2. Leia VARLEY, 5. Taylor OTTO, 6. Leticia McKENNA, 8. Kaitlyn TORPEY, 10. Rhianna POLLICINA (C) (24. Daniela GALIC 62′), 14. Laura HUGHES, 15. Kiera MEYERS (11. Emina EKIC 62′), 16. Karly ROESTBAKKEN (3. Naomi CHINNAMA 74′), 17. Hannah WILKINSON, 19. Tijan McKENNA (18. Leah DAVIDSON 74′)
Substitutes not used: 23. Melissa BARBIERI (GK)
Yellow Cards: Tijan McKenna, Roestbakken
Red Cards: None
Perth Glory: 1.Morgan AQUINO (GK), 3.Jessika COWART, 4.Natasha RIGBY (c), 7.Liz ANTON, 8.Hana LOWRY, 9.Millie FARROW (25.Grace JOHNSTON 84′), 10.Susan PHONSONGKHAM (13.Sarah CAIN 84′), 12.Sofia SAKALIS (11.Grace JALE 71′), 18.Sadie LAWRENCE, 20.Quinley QUEZADA, 23.Isobel DALTON (27.Georgia CASSIDY 78′)
Substitutes not used: 24.Sally JAMES (GK)
Yellow Cards: Phonsongkham, Rigby
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
