Perth Glory hosted Melbourne Victory on Saturday night in Round 5 of the Liberty A league in what was a milestone match for Perth Glory Captain Natasha Rigby who celebrated her 100th game with the club.
This was a big match for the Perth Glory side who were looking to continue their undefeated streak against a Matildas-fuelled Melbourne Victory team. Melbourne Victory was not short of intensity from kick off with a high press testing the composure of the Glory’s back line as well as forcing mistakes in the Glory midfield throughout the start of the first half. Though Glory had possession, Victory kept the play in Glory’s defensive half for most of the first 20 minutes where Victory attempted to open the scoreboard with several strikes on goals.
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However, in the twenty-second minute, Perth Glory was presented with an opportunity when Millie Farrow went down at the top of the box, gifting Perth Glory with their second free kick of the match. It was here, that Hana Lowry’s left foot effortlessly guided the ball past a wall of Victory defenders and into the left bottom corner of the net, giving Perth Glory a 1-0 lead.
A notable stand out in the first half was Perth Glory player, Sofia Sakalis who maintained compose through the midfield to drive the ball out of Perth Glory’s defensive half and create several chances for Glory to increase their lead. This included a beautiful long ball to Millie Farrow, whose goal finish was only denied by a last-minute clearance from Victory defender Kayla Morrison.
Perth Glory brought the intensity after halftime with a number of opportunities to increase their lead throughout the second half. However, Melbourne Victory eventually responded with Rachel Lowe finding the back of the net twice within the last ten minutes of regular time putting Victory ahead 2-1.
As the game went into stoppage, time Perth Glory was fighting for an equaliser. An initial opportunity to drive the ball up the left-hand side of the pitch by Perth Glory’s Grace Johnston was denied by the referee’s whistle. This stop of play by the Referee was in response to a Melbourne Victory player calling for assistance on the opposite end of the pitch, leaving both Glory players and supporters baffled.
Though frustration at this decision grew, Perth Glory was focused on the task at hand- to score. A last attempt to equalise was granted when play switched again to the left-hand side of the pitch and Johnston was able to deliver the ball to Quinley Quezada with a connecting pass to Susan Phonsongkham at the top of the box. Then came Hana Lowry, who, in a sea of white, with total composure, was able to slip the ball past the arms of Melbourne Victory keeper Lydia Williams to score in the 95th minute.
It is safe to say, that this match was not short of excitement and drama from both teams who kept the Referee, coaches, players, and above all, the fans on their toes until the very last whistle.
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