The Perth Glory Women are set to make a long overdue homecoming on Sunday when they will take to the field for a Liberty A-League game in Perth for the first time in almost a year.
Adelaide United will provide the opposition at Macedonia Park (kick-off at 4pm – tickets HERE) and if the recent history of this fixture is anything to go by, a tight tussle is on the cards.
There’s our cue to get into the stats…
Glory’s 1-0 win over the Reds in February this year was their first since 2016, with the South Australians winning five of the intervening seven meetings.
Overall, however, it is Glory who hold the edge in this fixture having enjoyed 13 victories to Adelaide’s seven, with the two sides also battling out three draws.
In addition to rarely drawing with Glory, Sunday’s visitors appear equally averse to drawing with any other opponent.
They did not record a single draw last season and shared the spoils just once per campaign in both 2019/20 and 2021/22.
Adrian Stenta’s side made a winning start to 2022/23 last weekend as Emilia Murray’s late goal proved enough to down Sydney FC.
Glory, of course, twice came from behind to earn a 2-2 away draw with Canberra United in their season-opener – Liz Anton’s first-half header and Gabriella Coleman’s maiden ALW goal just after the hour-mark securing the point.
English import Fiona Worts is again expected to provide Adelaide’s main attacking threat this term having bagged a remarkable 13 goals in 14 games last year.
The 26-year-old will need no introduction to Glory skipper Natasha Rigby whom she felled with a stray elbow in last season’s Round 4 meeting at Coopers Stadium.
Glory’s own 2021/22 Golden Boot winner, Cyera Hintzen, may return to the starting side on Sunday having been introduced from the bench against Canberra in Round One.
The American averaged 2.88 shots per game last season, finding the net five times in nine appearances and also contributing one assist.
At the other end of the pitch, Liz Anton continues to post some very impressive numbers.
In the past calendar year, she has averaged 1.62 blocks and 4.92 clearances per game, placing her in the top 20% of defenders in the competition in these categories.
The New Zealand international has also picked up just one yellow card in her 25 appearances for Glory and scored three goals, all of which have come against Canberra.
#ONEGlory
