Goals from Rachel Hill (2) and skipper Sam Kerr eased Glory to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers at Dorrien Gardens on Saturday evening.
Hill opened the scoring with a stunning strike from the edge of the box after 15 minutes and then teed up strike partner Kerr for the second just before the break.
The American duly made it 3-0 early in the second half with a magnificent chipped effort that brought a vocal crowd of over 700 to its feet.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268486001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5968339317001
The result maintained Glory’s unbeaten start to the campaign and was enough to propel Bobby Despotovski’s side to second on the ladder ahead of Sunday’s fixtures.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268486001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5968353756001
The hosts began brightly, with Alyssa Mautz forcing a save from Jada Whyman in the Wanderers goal as early as the fourth minute.
Whyman was left helpless soon after, however, unable to reach a superb shot from Hill who somehow found a pocket of space among a cluster of defenders before firing into the top corner.
Wanderers, to their credit, came close to levelling things up almost immediately, the impressive Georgia Yeoman-Dale picking out Rachel Lowe after a bursting run down the left and the midfielder crashing a powerful effort against the bar.
The visitors continued to press for an equaliser as the half wore on, with Glory’s attempts to repel them not helped by a head injury to Kim Carroll which prompted a defensive reshuffle.
But as half-time approached, it was the hosts who struck with a genuine sucker-punch.
Hill showed great persistence to win possession on the byline and cut the ball back for Kerr who opened her account for the season with an emphatic finish into the roof of the net.
Wanderers again threatened early in the second half, Kylie Ledbrook going close with a header from Courtney Nevin’s cross.
But they were still struggling to contain Hill and the former Orlando Pride striker grabbed her second and Glory’s third on 55 minutes with a strike that managed to eclipse her impressive opener.
Having been picked out by substitute Isabella Foletta, she held off her marker, turned onto her left foot and beat Whyman with a sublime chip that found the net via the underside of the bar.
Kerr was then denied her second when Whyman came out on top in a one-on-one situation after 75 minutes.
That miss proved to be academic, however, as Glory cruised through the final moments to secure a comprehensive and well-deserved win.
Match Details
Westfield W-League 2018/19 Season Round 3
Perth Glory 3 (Hill 15′, 55′, Kerr 42′) Western Sydney Wanderers 0
Half-time: 2-0
Dorrien Gardens
Referee: Rachel Mitchenson
Perth Glory: 1.Eliza CAMPBELL (gk), 3.Kim CARROLL (18.Isabella FOLETTA 25′), 4.Alyssa MAUTZ, 5.Shannon MAY, 7.Nicole STANTON , 9.Rachel HILL, 11.Leticia MCKENNA (14.Caitlin DOEGLAS 52′) , 12.Jenna ONIONS, 20.Sam KERR (c), 24.Natasha RIGBY, 25.Katie NAUGHTON
Substitutes not used: 17.Liana COOK, 23.Stacey CAVILL (gk)
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Western Sydney Wanderers: 1.Jada WHYMAN (gk), 2.Caitlin COOPER, 4.Maruschka WALDUS, 5.Rachel LOWE, 6.Servet UZUNLAR (c) (12.Susan PHONSONGKHAM 88′), 8.Erica HALLOWAY, 10.Kylie LEDBROOK (9.Remy SIEMSEN 56′), 13.Georgia YEOMAN-DALE, 14.Courtney NEVIN,17.Sydney MIRAMONTEZ, 19.Leena KHAMIS (15.Talitha KRAMER, 79′)
Substitutes not used: 30.Nicole SIMONSEN (gk)
Yellow Cards: Waldus, Kramer
Red Cards: None
#OneGlory
