Perth Glory reclaimed top spot on the Liberty A-League table after battling out a tense 0-0 draw with reigning Champions and Premiers Sydney FC at Macedonia Park on Sunday evening.
View full match highlights HERE.
View Alex Epakis’ post-match media conference HERE.
While a breakthrough never arrived at either end in what was the first ever goalless draw between the two sides, there was plenty of goalmouth action to keep another bumper home crowd engaged.
The draw ended a run of five straight defeats for Glory at the hands of the Sky Blues and they certainly asked plenty of questions of Ante Juric’s all-conquering side.
On a warm, blustery evening in Perth, it was the Sky Blues who began more brightly and Morgan Aquino was forced into action inside the opening three minutes, producing a fine, one-handed save to keep out a shot from Fiona Worts.
The Glory ‘keeper then reacted sharply to punch away a deflected effort from Princess Ibini-Isei in what proved to be the last major goalmouth incident of a cagey, keenly-contested first half.
After the break, Glory began to look more threatening in the final third and a smart save was required from Jada Whyman to thwart Natasha Rigby who had climbed highest to meet a Hana Lowry free-kick at the far post.
As the game opened up, Aquino did well to block a fierce drive from substitute Cortnee Vine, while at the other end, Quinley Quezada was just unable to keep her shot down having latched onto Susan Phonsongkham’s inviting through-ball.
To their credit, both sides took their search for a winner right to the final whistle, but there was to be no late drama at Macedonia Park on this occasion.
Match Details
Liberty A-League 2023/24 Season Round 8
Perth Glory 0 Sydney FC 0
Half-time: 0-0
Macedonia Park
Sunday 17 December 2023
Referee: Shane Skinner
Attendance: 1568
Perth Glory: 1.Morgan AQUINO (GK), 3.Jessika COWART, 4.Natasha RIGBY (c), 7.Liz ANTON, 8.Hana LOWRY, 9.Millie FARROW, 10.Susan PHONSONGKHAM (25.Grace JOHNSTON 89′), 12.Sofia SAKALIS (27.Georgia CASSIDY 70′), 20.Quinley QUEZADA, 22.Claudia MIHOCIC (18.Sadie LAWRENCE 51′), 23.Isobel DALTON
Substitutes not used: 17.Abbey GREEN, 24.Sally JAMES (GK)
Yellow Cards: Anton, Lowry, Farrow
Red Cards: None
Sydney FC: 1.Jada WHYMAN (GK), 2. Margaux CHAUVET, 3. Charlotte MCLEAN, 4. Tori TUMETH, 5. Kirsty FENTON, 13. Aideen KEANE (11. Cortnee VINE 46′), 19. Zara KRUGER, 20. Princess IBINI (C), 21. Shay HOLLMAN, 23. Fiona WORTS (9. Shea CONNORS 70′), 26. Madeleine CASPERS
Substitutes not used: 16. Jordan THOMPSON, 18. Taylor RAY, 30. Tahlia FRANCO (GK)
Yellow Cards: McLean, Fenton
Red Cards: None
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