Hana Lowry scored twice in the first-half as Glory chalked up a fourth successive win and kept their charge for the Finals very much on track by downing Brisbane Roar 2-0 at Macedonia Park.
View full match highlights HERE.
The women in purple produced a dominant performance in front of a vocal Pride Celebration crowd, also hitting the bar on two occasions in the second half through Sofia Sakalis.
Lowry opened the scoring midway through the opening period, seizing upon an error from Roar ‘keeper Isabella Shuttleworth and chipping into the net from outside the box.
Her second arrived nine minutes later as the midfielder, aided by a strong breeze, curled a corner directly into the net.
The result moves Glory up to sixth place in the table and to within four points of fourth-placed Melbourne Victory with a game in hand and Head Coach Alex Epakis was understandably quick to praise his in-form charges.
Click HERE to listen to his full post-match media conference.
“I’m very, very happy,” he said.
“It’s four on the trot, it’s one goal conceded in the last four or five, we’re scoring goals, creating lots of chances and looking threatening in every game.
“The players have put themselves in a great position.
“It’s another little step forward.
“I know it’s three points and a win, but there are still more steps for us to climb and for us to achieve for us to reach our goal, which is Finals.”
After a fairly cagey opening, the game burst into life in the 22nd minute when Shuttleworth slipped while attempting to clear her lines and Lowry needed no second invitation to seize the loose ball and send it arcing back over the stranded ‘keeper’s head into the empty net.
Seemingly stunned by that opening goal, Roar were left reeling again soon afterwards when Lowry’s corner from the right sailed over a packed box and found its way into the net.
Glory rarely looked likely to relinquish their two-goal lead as the second half progressed and indeed came close to increasing it on numerous occasions.
Lowry was unfortunate not to claim her hat-trick when her 51st-minute effort was ruled out due to an apparent foul by Isabella Foletta in the build-up.
Morgan Aquino then did well to keep out a Shea Connors shot during a rare attack from the visitors, before a sweeping team move at the other end culminated in Sakalis curling a shot against the bar.
The midfielder’s luck was out again eight minutes from time as she saw another well-struck effort crash back off the woodwork and right at the death, substitute Demi Koulizaks twice went close to adding further gloss to what was another hugely-impressive team performance.
Match Details
Liberty A-League 2022/23 Season Round 15
Perth Glory 2 (Lowry 22′, 31′) Brisbane Roar 0
Half-time: 2-0
Macedonia Park
Referee: Isabella Libri
Perth Glory: 1.Morgan AQUINO (gk), 3.Kim CARROLL, 4.Natasha RIGBY (c), 7.Liz ANTON, 8.Hana LOWRY, 12.Sofia SAKALIS, 13.Sarah CAIN (21.Ella MASTRANTONIO 55′), 14.Hannah BLAKE (23.Alana JANCEVSKI 55′), 15.Cyera HINTZEN, 18.Sadie LAWRENCE (9.Demi KOULIZAKIS 74′), 19.Izzy FOLETTA (17.Abbey GREEN 78′)
Substitutes not used: 20.Sarah LANGMAN (gk)
Yellow Cards: Carroll, Lawrence
Red Cards: None
Brisbane Roar: 1.Isabella SHUTTLEWORTH (GK), 3.Jessie RASSCHAERT, 5.Jamilla RANKIN, 7.Ayesha NORRIE (c), 9.Larissa CRUMMER, 10.Katrina GORRY, 12.Shea CONNORS (4.Kijah STEPHENSON 61′), 17.Talitha KRAMER, 19.Hollie PALMER, 23.Kajsa LIND, 27.Indiah-Paige RILEY
Substitutes not used: 11.Sharn FREIER, 13.Tamar LEVIN, 51.Hensley HANCUFF (GK),78.Margot ROBBINE
Yellow Cards: Kramer
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
