Quinley Quezada’s first Liberty A-League goal and a penalty save from Morgan Aquino were not enough to prevent Glory from tasting defeat on the road as they went down 3-1 to Sydney FC at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday afternoon.
View full match highlights HERE
Having conceded a well-taken goal from Maddy Caspers 24 minutes in, Glory looked set to fall further behind when the hosts were awarded a penalty moments later, but Aquino pulled off a stunning, one-handed block to deny Princess Ibini.
And when Quezada clipped home an inswinging free-kick from Hana Lowry just before the break to make it 1-1, the game was very much in the balance.
The Sky Blues continued to create the bulk of the chances after the break, however and Matildas forward Cortnee Vine struck just short of the hour-mark, before repeating the feat five minutes from time to ensure that Ante Juric’s side would claim the spoils.
Searching for a first victory over the hosts in six attempts, Glory were soon made aware of the task ahead as Sydney began brightly, with Indi Dos Santos and Vine providing a constant threat down either flank.
And it was Vine who provided the assist for her side’s opening goal, cleverly picking out Caspers who turned neatly in the box and drilled a shot into the bottom corner.
Aquino then came to Glory’s rescue, somehow managing to palm away Ibini’s penalty after Dos Santos had been tripped by Lowry.
The Glory midfielder duly made amends for that misdemeanour, delivering an inviting free-kick into the six-yard box where Quezada got in front of her marker to force the ball over the line.
But the hosts reclaimed the ascendancy in the opening period of the second half and restored their lead when Ibini combined with Vine and she found the net with a low, angled strike.
Aquino then made a double save from Ibini and Mackenzie Hawkesby to keep Glory in the game, only for Vine to lock in the win for Sydney late on as she was picked out by Dos Santos, rounded Aquino and squeezed the ball over the line.
Substitute Georgia Cassidy did come close to claiming a late consolation for the women in white, but her deflected half-volley was brilliantly saved by Jada Whyman.
Match Details
Liberty A-League 2023/24 Season Round 15
Sydney FC 3 (Caspers 24′, Vine 59′, 85′) Perth Glory 1 (Quezada 33′)
Half-time: 1-1
Leichhardt Oval
Saturday 3 February 2024
Referee: Isabella Libri
Sydney FC: 1.Jada WHYMAN (GK), 3. Charlotte MCLEAN, 4. Tori TUMETH, 5. Kirsty FENTON, 11. Cortnee VINE, 15. Mackenzie HAWKESBY, 16. Jordan THOMPSON, 20. Princess IBINI (c), 21. Shay HOLLMAN, 22. Indiana DOS SANTOS, 26. Madeleine CASPERS
Substitutes not used: 14. Abbey LEMON, 17. Jynaya DOS SANTOS, 18. Taylor RAY, 19. Zara KRUGER, 30. Tahlia FRANCO (GK)
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, 11.Grace JALE (17.Abbey GREEN 67′), 12.Sofia SAKALIS, 18.Sadie LAWRENCE (19.Izzy FOLETTA 30′), 20.Quinley QUEZADA (27.Georgia CASSIDY 83′), 23.Isobel DALTON (13.Sarah CAIN 83′)
Substitutes not used: 24.Sally JAMES (GK)
Yellow Cards: Lowry, Anton
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
