A superb double from Hana Lowry earned Glory a 2-2 draw against Melbourne Victory at Macedonia Park on Saturday night, a result which moved Alex Epakis’ side three points clear at the top of the Liberty A-League table.
View full match highlights HERE.
View Epakis’ full post-match media conference HERE.
The midfielder fired Glory into a first-half lead with a superb free-kick, only for Rachel Lowe to score twice in the space of five minutes after the break to put Victory in front.
But with their unbeaten start to the season under threat, Glory responded in style deep into stoppage-time as Susan Phonsongkham found Lowry in the box and she calmly drilled a low shot past Lydia Williams.
In front of the largest crowd of the season, Glory found themselves on the back foot in the opening exchanges as Victory began brightly, with Kurea Okino twice threatening to give them the lead.
But having weathered that storm, the women in purple hit the front in spectacular style midway through the opening period, Lowry curling home a stunning free-kick from a central position to open her account for the season.
1-0 very nearly became 2-0 moments later, Sofia Sakalis playing in Millie Farrow whose shot beat Williams, only for Kayla Morrison to scramble the ball off the line.
Glory continued to press at the start of the second half, with Williams forced to make two fine saves to deny Grace Jale and Liz Anton, before Farrow was unable to find the net when sent clean through on goal.
Having come so close to going 2-0 up, the hosts almost immediately found themselves pegged back to 1-1 via Lowe’s deflected shot through a crowded box.
And five minutes later, the Matildas midfielder claimed her and Victory’s second, this time with an emphatic volley.
Glory have shown their resilience on numerous occasions already this season, however and they dug deep once again to earn a deserved share of the spoils, a neat team move culminating in Lowry displaying immense composure to beat Williams with a pinpoint finish.
Match Details
Liberty A-League 2023/24 Season Round 5
Perth Glory 2 (Lowry 24′, 90+5′) Melbourne Victory 2 (Lowe 79′, 84′)
Half-time: 1-0
Macedonia Park
Saturday 18 November 2023
Referee: Caitlin Williams
Attendance: 1533
Perth Glory:Â 1.Morgan AQUINO (GK), 3.Jessika COWART, 4.Natasha RIGBY (c), 7.Liz ANTON (25.Grace JOHNSTON 83′), 8.Hana LOWRY, 9.Millie FARROW, 10.Susan PHONSONGKHAM, 11.Grace JALE, 12.Sofia SAKALIS (20.Quinley QUEZADA 71′), 22.Claudia MIHOCIC, 27.Georgia CASSIDY
Substitutes not used: 13.Sarah CAIN, 18.Sadie LAWRENCE, 24.Sally JAMES (GK)
Yellow Cards: Phonsongkham
Red Cards: None
Melbourne Victory: 1.Lydia WILLIAMS (GK), 2.Jamilla RANKIN, 3.Tori HANSEN, 4.Sara D’APPOLONIA, 5.Jessika NASH, 8.Alana MURPHY (7.Ella O’GRADY 46′) (16.Paige ZOIS 90+7′), 11.McKenzie WEINERT, 13.Kurea OKINO, 18.Kayla MORRISON, 21.Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT, 23.Rachel LOWE
Substitutes not used: 20.Miranda TEMPLEMAN (GK), 22.Ava BRIEDIS, 27.Rosie CURTIS
Yellow Cards: Kellond-Knight, Hansen
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
