Teenage striker Tanika Lala scored her first Liberty A-League goal, but Glory were unable to prevent Melbourne City from claiming the 2023/24 Premiership title with a 2-1 victory at Macedonia Park.
View full match highlights HERE
View Alex Epakis’ post-match media conference HERE
Following Sydney FC’s defeat at the hands of Melbourne Victory earlier in the day, City knew that a win would see them claim the Plate and an early strike from Rhianna Pollicina set them on their way.
Substitute Shelby McMahon doubled their lead late on, but there was still time for Lala to provide a moment of joy for the home faithful as she thumped in a stoppage-time consolation effort.
With so much at stake, the visitors predictably made a fast start to the game and hit the front with only eight minutes on the clock as Pollicina curled a stunning effort past Morgan Aquino from the edge of the box.
Glory reacted well, however and enjoyed plenty of possession and territory, even if the only other major chance of the half fell City’s way as Aquino was forced to claw away an inadvertent header from defender Liz Anton which threatened to creep into the net.
The hosts looked altogether more threatening following the restart, Millie Farrow being denied by Barbara in the City goal and skipper Tash Rigby then seeing her goalbound header from a corner cleared off the line.
As the tension rose, the Victorians looked as if they would need another goal to hold Glory off and they found it two minutes from the end of normal time when McMahon sliced her way into the box and smashed a shot in to the roof of the net.
The women in purple were destined to at least have the last word on the day, however, as some hesitant defending in the City box allowed Lala to seize upon a loose ball and drive it gleefully past Barbara.
Match Details
Liberty A-League 2023/24 Season Round 22
Perth Glory 1 (Lala 90+4′) Melbourne City 2 (Pollicina 8′, McMahon 89′)
Half-time: 0-1
Macedonia Park
Sunday 31 March 2024
Attendance: 1314
Referee: Isabella Mossin
Perth Glory: 1.Morgan AQUINO (GK) (24.Sally JAMES (GK) 55′), 3.Jessika COWART, 4.Natasha RIGBY (c), 7.Liz ANTON, 8.Hana LOWRY, 9.Millie FARROW (31.Clara HOARAU 73′), 10.Susan PHONSONGKHAM, 19.Izzy FOLETTA (26.Tanika LALA 73′), 20.Quinley QUEZADA (11.Grace JALE 55′), 23.Isobel DALTON (13.Sarah CAIN, 81′), 27.Georgia CASSIDY
Substitutes not used: None
Yellow Cards: Lala
Red Cards: None
Melbourne City: 88. BÁRBARA (GK), 5. Taylor OTTO (12. Shelby McMAHON 86′), 6. Leticia McKENNA (7. Julia GROSSO 64′), 10. Rhianna POLLICINA (24. Daniela GALIC 64′), 11. Emina EKIC, 13. Rebekah STOTT, 14. Laura HUGHES, 16. Karly ROESTBAKKEN, 17. Hannah WILKINSON, 18. Leah DAVIDSON, 22.Bryleeh HENRY
Substitutes not used: 3. Naomi CHINNAMA, 23. Melissa BARBIERI (GK)
Yellow Cards: Hughes
Red Cards: None
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