Glory suffered just their second defeat of the Liberty A-League season as they were edged out 1-0 by Western United in Friday’s Round 9 clash at City Vista Recreation Reserve.
View the match highlights HERE.
Matildas representative Chloe Logarzo bagged what proved to be the only goal of a hard-fought contest 18 minutes in when she was teed up by Melissa Taranto and finished clinically past Morgan Aquino.
Glory enjoyed more possession throughout, but were unable to unlock a well-marshalled home defence and when Hana Lowry was presented with a great chance in stoppage-time, her goalbound effort was superbly blocked by defender Stacey Papadopoulos.
Alex Epakis’ side are set to remain top of the table overnight, but Melbourne City will replace them at the summit if they manage to get the better of Victory in Saturday’s Melbourne derby at AAMI Park.
Having beaten United comfortably when the two sides met in Round One, Glory began confidently and went close in the sixth minute when Sofia Sakalis found Millie Farrow and the in-form Englishwoman saw her shot deflected away for a corner.
But with Logarzo pulling the strings, the home side also looked threatening in the opening exchanges and after a fine sliding challenge from Sadie Lawrence thwarted the home skipper as she prepared to pull the trigger, the resulting corner from Melissa Taranto clipped the top of the crossbar.
Glory’s response came from Farrow who showed great tenacity to burrow her way through the heart of the home defence and get a shot away which drifted narrowly wide.
As the chances continued to flow at both ends, it was the Victorians who finally took one, Melissa Taranto driving to the edge of the box and slipping the ball into the path of Logarzo whose emphatic finish gave Aquino no chance.
With their tails up, United immediately pressed for a second goal and they almost found it when Aquino parried Grace Maher’s shot and Hannah Keane sent the rebound crashing against the outside of the post.
The tireless Farrow duly produced Glory’s first threatening moment of the second half, capping another strong run by fizzing a low shot across the face of goal from a tight angle and substitute Quinley Quezada then saw her shot blocked by home ‘keeper Hillary Beall.
There was no faulting the visitors’ endeavour in the final quarter, but they struggled to get in behind the United backline and when Lowry did finally get a glimpse of goal, Papadopoulos bravely threw herself in front of the shot to ensure that the points would not be shared.
Match Details
Liberty A-League 2023/24 Season Round 9
Western United 1 (Logarzo 18′) Perth Glory 0
Half-time: 1-0
City Vista Recreation Reserve
Friday 22 December 2023
Referee: Rebecca Durcau
Western United: 21. Hillary BEALL (gk), 2. Stacey PAPADOPOULOS, 4. Jaclyn SAWICKI, 6. Chloe LOGARZO, 9. Hannah KEANE, 15. Adriana TARANTO (11. Emma ROBERS 82′), 16. Melissa TARANTO, 18. Grace MAHER, 19. Tyla Jay VLAJNIC (20. Keiwa HIEDA 73′), 22. Alana CERNE, 24. Julia SARDO
Substitutes not used: 1. Alyssa DALL’OSTE (gk), 13. Avaani PRAKASH, 14. Natasha DAKIC
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, 9.Millie FARROW, 10.Susan PHONSONGKHAM (25.Grace JOHNSTON 77′), 11.Grace JALE, 12.Sofia SAKALIS (23.Isobel DALTON 55′), 18.Sadie LAWRENCE (22.Claudia MIHOCIC 55′), 27.Georgia CASSIDY (20.Quinley QUEZADA 55′)
Substitutes not used: 24.Sally JAMES (GK)
Yellow Cards: Rigby
Red Cards: None
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