Glory came from behind to secure a battling 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory in Friday’s Liberty A-League Unite Round fixture at Sydney’s Leichhardt Oval.
View full match highlight HERE
Listen to Alex Epakis’ post-match assessment HERE
In-form forward Rachel Lowe headed the navy-and-whites in front with 28 minutes played, but Alex Epakis’ side responded on the hour-mark as Jamilla Rankin glanced Hana Lowry’s superb corner into the roof of her own net.
Both sides pushed strongly for a winner in the latter stages, with Claudia Mihocic striking the crossbar for the visitors, but ultimately the spoils were shared and Glory closed the gap on leaders Melbourne City to five points.
Chances were at a premium during a cagey opening period and yet Victory were able to get their noses in front when Tori Hansen’s cross from the left reached Lowe and she headed home her third goal against Glory this season.
The women in white came close to levelling things up in the shadows of half-time as Quinely Quezada sent a well-struck effort fizzing narrowly wide of the target and within two minutes of the restart, Hana Lowry drew a smart save from Courtney Newbon in the Victory goal.
The Glory midfielder would not be kept at bay much longer, however, as her perfectly-flighted corner seemed destined to find the top corner of the net even before it glanced off the top of Rankin’s head and flew in.
Mihocic then unleashed a rasping drive from fully 30m out which cannoned back out off the bar and as the game moved into its final quarter, it began to open up.
Morgan Aquino did well to parry a shot from the dangerous Lowe at one end, before Millie Farrow’s effort flew just wide at the other and both defences endured some anxious moments defending set-pieces.
Ultimately, however, as was the case at Macedonia Park back in November, there was to be no separating two sides who may yet be destined to meet again come Finals time.
Match Details
Liberty A-League 2023/24 Season Round 12
Melbourne Victory 1 (Lowe 28′) Perth Glory 1 (Rankin o.g. 60′)
Half-time: 1-0
Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
Friday 12 January 2024
Referee: Caitlin Williams
Melbourne Victory: 50. Courtney NEWBON (GK), 2. Jamilla RANKIN, 3. Tori HANSEN, 4. Sara D’APPOLONIA (9. Emily GIELNIK 74′), 8. Alana MURPHY (16. Paige ZOIS 90+4′), 10. Alex CHIDIAC, 11. McKenzie WEINERT, 15. Emma CHECKER, 18. Kayla MORRISON, 21. Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT (19. Lia PRIVITELLI 66′), 23. Rachel LOWE
Substitutes not used: 66.Georgia CANDY (gk), 27. Rosie CURTIS
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Perth Glory: 1.Morgan AQUINO (GK), 3.Jessika COWART, 4.Natasha RIGBY (c), 7.Liz ANTON (25.Grace JOHNSTON 71′), 8.Hana LOWRY, 9.Millie FARROW (12.Sofia SAKALIS 86′), 11.Grace JALE, 20.Quinley QUEZADA, 22.Claudia MIHOCIC, 23.Isobel DALTON (18.Sadie LAWRENCE 78′), 27.Georgia CASSIDY (10.Susan PHONSONGKHAM 71′)
Substitutes not used: 24.Sally JAMES (GK)
Yellow Cards: Anton, Quezada
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
