Perth Glory have edged closer to a home final after a comfortable 3-1 victory over Adelaide United.
Perth Glory have edged closer to booking themselves a home Westfield W-League final after a comfortable 3-1 victory over Adelaide United at Burton Park on Saturday.
A brace to Matildas striker Kathryn Gill and late goal to winger Marianna Tabain was enough to see off the Lady Reds, who had equalised in the second half via Racheal Quigley’s clever finish.
The win lifts Perth momentarily into second and a chance to host a home final although should Melbourne Victory win on Sunday, the Glory would drop to third.
The Lady Reds were the first to threaten on four minutes when Quigley caught Perth goalkeeper Kaitlyn Savage by surprise with a dipping shot that forced a tough save from the custodian.
The Glory finally tested Kristi Harvey in the 10th minute and the Adelaide shot-stopper was equal to the task when she held Tabain’s rasping shot comfortably.
A static opening was eventually brought to life when Gill gave Perth the lead on 18 minutes.
Tabain’s cross from the wing was misjudged by Lady Reds defender Ann Mayo and fell kindly to Gill who nudged it past Harvey despite the keeper’s best efforts.
Quigley was unlucky not to equalise for the hosts when the 21-year-old struck a stunning shot that was inches away from curling into the top corner of the net.
Gill and Rosie Sutton’s forward partnership was a hazard to the Lady Reds back four and the duo almost conjured a second for the visitors.
Sutton got on the end of her strike partner’s through ball and prodded past Harvey, but the ball rolled narrowly wide.
Gill thought she had scored again moments later, but the linesman’s flag was raised.
Eager to extend their lead, Perth put the foot on the gas after the break but scuffed back-to-back chances either side of giving up a free header to Lady Reds captain Abby Erceg.
With the visitors pressing, Adelaide found an unlikely equaliser in the 52nd minute when a long raking diagonal ball from Erceg found Quigley with only one Glory defender to shake.
Quigley held her nerve and shrugged the challenge before nodding over Savage.
Sutton responded for Perth but her thumping strike was tipped onto the bar before Gill made a meal of a golden opportunity on the rebound by smashing her shot over.
Tabain followed suit for the Glory when she also drilled over the woodwork after a clearance fell kindly to the winger only 10 yards out.
The visitors missed another point-blank chance following a goalmouth scramble, before Gill finally made her side’s pressure count on 65 minutes and handed the Glory back the lead.
Perth skipper Collette McCallum’s corner was cleared straight back to her where the 26-year-old had time to pick out Gill who rose highest to head the ball sweetly past Harvey.
Tabain rounded out the victory with a simple finish after Gill’s cutback.
Adelaide United 1 (Quigley 52)
Perth Glory 3 (Gill 18, 65, Tabain 86)
Adelaide United: 1. Kristi Harvey (gk), 4. Jessie Wharepouri (17. Laura Johns 83), 5. Abby Erceg (c), 6. Cassandra Tsoumbris, 7. Racheal Quigley, 8. Sarah McLaughlin, 9. Marijana Rajcic, 13. Ann Mayo, 15. Emma Checker, 16. Jessica Waterhouse, 18. Georgia Macri (2. Ruth Wallace 71)
Perth Glory: 26. Kaitlyn Savage (gk), 2. Sarah Carroll, 3. Carys Hawkins, 6. Sasha Andrews, 7. Aivi Luik, 8. Ella Mastrantonio, 9. Rosie Sutton (19. Shawn Billam 88), 12. Kathryn Gill, 13. Elisa D’Ovidio (5. Shannon May 79), 14. Collette McCallum (capt), 17. Marianna Tabain (16. Thia Eastman 90)
