A Hannah Keane goal four minutes from time consigned Glory to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Western United after the home side had twice taken the lead at Macedonia Park.
View full match highlights HERE.
The women in purple made a flying start to the New Year as Rylee Baisden fired them into a seventh-minute lead with her fifth goal of the season and although Keane levelled for the visitors shortly afterwards, Hana Lowry calmly put Glory back in front early in the second half.
The Victorians responded once again, however, as substitute Chloe Logarzo made it 2-2 midway through the half and they completed the comeback right at the death as Keane forced the ball home to secure a fifth successive win for her side.
Glory Head Coach Alex Epakis felt that his charges were very unfortunate not to have taken at least a point from what was a thrilling game played out in front of a large and vocal home crowd.
“It’s disappointing not to get something,” he said.
“I thought some of our players had their best games of the season.
“It’s just these moments in the contest that are hurting us and things are not quite going our way.
“They [Western United] have a certain style of play and we tried to compete and we did really well at times and that’s why it’s so disappointing to walk away with nothing.
“We weren’t perfect, but we’re getting punished for not being perfect.
“Obviously we’re not where we want to be currently points-wise, but there’s no other solution than getting better internally in what we’re doing and the tide will turn.
“We just have to make sure that we’re focused on that.”
The game could not have got off to a better start for Epakis’ side as Sofia Sakalis and Cyera Hintzen combined to create an opportunity for Baisden who needed no second invitation to sweep the ball past US compatriot Hillary Beall in the United goal.
Within ten minutes, however, Keane bundled home her first of the afternoon from inside the six-yard box after Sarah Langman had done superbly well to tip Sydney Cummings’ initial header onto the bar.
Shortly before the break, it looked as if Glory would be handed a golden opportunity to reclaim the lead, but after Hillary Beall appeared to upend Sakalis in the box, referee Caitlin Williams instead deemed the midfielder guilty of simulation and issued her with a yellow card.
Eight minutes into the second half, however, Glory did get their noses back in front, this time Baisden and Hintzen combining to tee up Lowry who showed great strength to force her way in on goal before applying a composed finish to bag her first goal of the season.
The ebb and flow continued unabated as Logarzo drilled home a low Jessica McDonald cross moments after being introduced from the bench to make it 2-2 and set up a frantic final 20 minutes.
Glory substitute Demi Koulizakis duly went close with a toe-poked effort in a crowded box, before Langman produced a fingertip save to foil Keane at the other end.
But United’s in-form US striker would ultimately claim her second goal of the game when the Glory defence failed to deal with a Melissa Taranto free-kick and she fired in a shot which Koulizakis could only help into the net as she attempted to clear off the line.
Match Details
Liberty A-League 2022/23 Season Round 8
Perth Glory 2 (Baisden 7′, Lowry 53′) Western United 3 (Keane 17′, 86′, Logarzo 67′)
Half-time: 1-1
Macedonia Park
Referee: Caitlin Williams
Perth Glory: 20.Sarah LANGMAN (gk), 3.Kim CARROLL, 4.Natasha RIGBY (c), 7.Liz ANTON, 8.Hana LOWRY (10.Susan PHONSONGKHAM 89′), 11.Rylee BAISDEN (9.Demi KOULIZAKIS 66′), 12.Sofia SAKALIS, 15.Cyera HINTZEN, 16.Isabella WALLHEAD (23.Alana JANCEVSKI 89′), 18.Sadie LAWRENCE (42.Gabriella COLEMAN 75′), 21.Ella MASTRANTONIO
Substitutes not used: 1.Morgan AQUINO (gk)
Yellow Cards: Sakalis, Rigby, Jancevski
Red Cards: None
Western United: 21. Hillary BEALL (gk), 2. Stacey PAPADOPOULOS, 8. Jessica McDONALD, 9. Hannah KEANE, 10. Kahli JOHNSON (18. Aleksandra SINCLAIR 78′), 11. Emma ROBERS (14. Natasha DAKIC 82′), 15. Adriana TARANTO (5. Aimee MEDWIN 60′), 16. Melissa TARANTO, 20. Sydney CUMMINGS, 22. Alana CERNE, 24. Julia SARDO (6. Chloe LOGARZO 59′)
Substitutes not used: 1. Alyssa DALL’OSTE (gk)
Yellow Cards: Beall, Cummings
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
