First-half goals from Kijah Stephenson and Sharn Freier consigned Glory to a 2-0 defeat against Brisbane Roar in their final away game of the Liberty A-League season.
View full match highlights HERE.
On a damp, gloomy afternoon at Perry Park, the visitors were punished for not taking their early chances when Stephenson capitalised upon a defensive error and beat Morgan Aquino in a one-on-one situation.
And ten minutes later, Freier finished emphatically after being played in behind by a raking through-ball from Jenna McCormick.
Former Glory player Deborah-Anne De La Harpe then struck the woodwork for the hosts in the second half as Alex Epakis’ side were unable to prevent the Queenslanders from securing their first victory in this fixture since 2021.
Although both sides had already seen their Finals hopes extinguished, the game opened at a lively pace with Grace Jale and Stephenson both going close at either end inside the first four minutes.
Susan Phonsongkham was then denied by Keeley Richards and the Roar ‘keeper was called into action again moments later, this time getting down well to her right to parry a fizzing effort from Izzy Dalton.
When Hana Lowry also went close, curling a left-footed effort narrowly wide, it looked to be just a matter of time before Glory broke the deadlock.
But instead, the game’s opening goal went Brisbane’s way as Sarah Cain’s under-hit backpass was seized upon by Stephenson and she applied an audacious, dinked finish to beat Aquino.
Stunned by that setback, Glory found themselves with a mountain to climb ten minutes later when McCormick’s ball over the top sent Freier clear and she slammed a shot in at the near post.
Roar proceeded to look the more likely during the second half, Matildas star Tameka Yallop pulling the strings in midfield and coming close to finding the net when her corner was acrobatically tipped away by Aquino.
The over-worked Glory defence was almost undone again on 69 minutes as, following a slaloming run, De La Harpe saw her shot cannon back out off the post.
And although Richards was forced to save smartly at the feet of Phonsongkham late on, the hosts never looked likely to allow the women in purple back into the contest.
Glory will round off their 2023/24 campaign by hosting Melbourne City on Sunday 31 March (kick-off at 3pm WST).
Match Details
Liberty A-League 2023/24 Season Round 21
Brisbane Roar 2 (Stephenson 33′, Freier 43′) Perth Glory 0
Half-time: 2-0
Perry Park
Saturday 23 March 2024
Referee: Caitlin Williams
Brisbane Roar: 1. Keeley RICHARDS (gk), 3. Deborah-Anne DE LA HARPE (2. Rebecca KIRKUP 87′), 4. Kijah STEPHENSON (19. Hollie PALMER 76′), 5. Jenna MCCORMICK, 6. Holly MCQUEEN, 7. Ayesha NORRIE (C) (8. Mariel HECHER 79′), 9. Mia CORBIN, 11. Sharn FREIER, 13. Tameka YALLOP, 17. Leah SCARPELLI, 32. Alicia WOODS
Substitutes not used: 20. Bonnie DAVIES, 21. Isabella SHUTTLEWORTH (gk)
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Perth Glory: 1.Morgan AQUINO (GK), 3.Jessika COWART, 4.Natasha RIGBY (c), 7.Liz ANTON, 8.Hana LOWRY, 10.Susan PHONSONGKHAM, 11.Grace JALE (20.Quinley QUEZADA 70′), 13.Sarah CAIN (9.Millie FARROW 56′), 19.Izzy FOLETTA (31.Clara HOARAU 70′), 23.Isobel DALTON, 27.Georgia CASSIDY (18.Sadie LAWRENCE 77′)
Substitutes not used: 24.Sally JAMES (GK)
Yellow Cards: Rigby, Quezada
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
