The Perth Glory Women have delivered a lively performance in front of their home fans to earn an outstanding 3-2 victory over Adelaide United at Members Equity Stadium.
The Perth Glory Women have delivered a lively performance in front of their home fans to earn an outstanding 3-2 victory over Adelaide United at Members Equity Stadium.
In truth, the score line flattered the visitors whose goals came in the dying minutes but it didn-t dampen the history making first win for the Glory side in the new Westfield A-League competition.
Perth dominated from the opening whistle with Matilda midfielder Collette McCallum curling in a sensational 22 yard left footer over the keeper which ricocheted in off the crossbar. Fellow Australia international Lisa De Vanna showed why she is one of the most feared figures in front of goals with searing run from halfway finding space to clinically finish past Emma Wirkus in the United goal.
The visitors came out with renewed vigour in the second half but Perth weathered their attack and regained the ascendancy and had a third on the board ten minutes after the restart thanks to an own goal from Adelaide skipper Dianne Alagich.
While some of the sheen of an otherwise dominant display was removed in the dying stages when the visitors grabbed two quick goals there were plenty of reasons for Perth to celebrate.
The return of Young Matildas pair Marianna Tabain and Ella Mastrantonio gave the side added impetus on the back of great performances across the park from all those in purple.
Coach Nicola Williams praised the efforts of her two junior internationals after the match.
“Ella and Marianna were sensational,” she said. “They-re very skillful and talented players and they allow us to play a lot more attacking football and hold the ball.”
“We say they-re our young players, but they-re the most vital ones to us.”
Williams was also impressed with De Vanna, her dynamic striker who scored and had a big impact after just one week training with the squad.
“She was wanting to win the ball (and) had plenty of aggression,” Williams said. “Before the game she was focused and rested up from last week. She-s had a lot of travel in the last few weeks (but) she had a big impact today.”
Perth Glory 3 (Collette McCallum 25-, Lisa De Vanna 41-, Di Alagich (og) 56-)
Adelaide United 2 (Sharon Black 90-, Donna Cockayne 93-)
Members Equity Stadium, Perth
Saturday 15 November 2008
Crowd: Approximately 500
Referee: Prue Donohoe
Assistant Referees: Josh Mihevc, Trent Fleskens
Fourth Official: David Costello
Perth Glory: 20.Maya DIEDERICHSEN (gk), 2.Stacey LEARMONT, 3.Carys HAWKINS, 8.Tanya OXTOBY (c), 10.Ella MASTRANTONIO, 11.Lisa DE VANNA 12.Dani CALAUTTI, 13.Elisa D-OVIDIO (5.Shannon MAY 67-), 14.Collette McCALLUM, 17.Marianna TABAIN, 19.Emily DUNN
Substitutes not used: 30.Katarina JUKIC (gk), 7.Ciara CONWAY, 15.Elle SEMMENS
Yellow cards: Lisa de Vanna 58-
Red Cards: Nil
Adelaide United: 1.Emma WIRKUS (gk), 2.Renee HARRISON (15.Lauren CHILVERS 62-), 3.Sarah AMORIM, 4.Dianne ALAGICH (c), 6.Kristyn SWAFFER, 8.Sandra SCALZI (14.Donna COCKAYNE 72-), 9.Stephanie TOKICH (12.Tanya HARRISON 67-), 10.Victoria BALOMENOS, 11.Sharon BLACK, 13.Leah ROBINSON, 17.April MANN
Substitutes not used: 20.Sian McLAREN (gk)
Yellow cards: Victoria Balomenos 77-
Red Cards: Nil
