Perth Glory recorded their first win of the season on Sunday with a thrilling 3-2 win against Canberra United at a hot and windy Macedonia Park.
They did it the hard way, going two goals down inside 35 minutes through strikes from the Canberra duo of Nickoletta Flannery and Vesna Milivojevic.
A scrappy goal in the dying stages of the first half from American import Rylee Baisden saw the home side claw one back and this really changed the game’s momentum.
Glory came out for the second half with the wind behind them and the home crowd urging them on. It was another American, Cyera Hintzen, who scored the equaliser in the 53rd minute. Canberra tried to respond and had chances to go back in front but the momentum was well and truly with Glory, and Baisden scored her second of the game in the 69th minute to snatch the win.
This was only Glory’s third victory over Canberra United in 26 attempts and it was just their third win in Western Australia since Sam Kerr left the club at the end of season 2018-19, so it was no wonder the players celebrated as much as they did at the end of the game.
The win for Glory was a noticeable relief, but they next face Melbourne City away from home and need to try and build on this result if they are to force their way back into finals contention. This was a tough loss for Canberra, who must bounce back quickly to avoid back-to-back defeats – they also face Melbourne City next, at McKellar Park on December 23rd.
Heat and wind make for difficult conditions
The decision to play Perth home games in the late afternoon may make sense for TV schedules, but it does not take into account the impact on players. The game kicked off with temperatures in the low 30s and the sea breeze just starting to pick up. Both defences struggled with the gusty wind when they were playing into it and the temperatures took a toll on the pace of the game. There were drink breaks during each half, but the number of players from both sides suffering cramps at the end of the game was noticeable.
The Perth Glory men’s team are also playing their home games at Macedonia Park. However, they have all their kick-off times at 7pm when the winds have eased and the temperatures are dropping. Once again it would appear that the welfare of women’s teams is considered less important than that of their male counterparts.
Age is no barrier to performance
Both sides had their fair share of talented and exciting youngsters on display, but arguably two of the best on ground were Michelle Heyman and Kim Carroll. At 34 and 35 years of age respectively, these two players showed that there is no substitute for experience.
Heyman arguably had the better of the first half, with the Canberra veteran making a strong run down the right wing and leaving defenders in her wake before sliding an inch-perfect cross into the path of Nickoletta Flannery, who despatched the chance with unerring accuracy.
Carroll then showed why she is still one of the best defenders in the league by getting much tighter on Heyman and her colleagues. The gradual shift in momentum towards Perth Glory during the latter stages of the first half was in no small part due to the pressure that Carroll and her fellow defenders were exerting on the United attackers.
Heyman was still a constant threat in the second half with her clever touches and ability to find little pockets of space. However, the Glory defence was being superbly marshalled by Carroll and despite United coming close on a few occasions the home team held firm to see out the game.
A little luck goes a long way
With the scoreline at 2-0 and the halftime break looming, Perth Glory was facing an uphill struggle to get a foothold in the game and thus avoid a third successive home defeat.
An inswinging Hana Lowry corner in the second minute of first half stoppage time was not dealt with by the Canberra defence and an attempted clearance cannoned off two defenders before bouncing invitingly into the path of Glory’s Rylee Baisden. She needed no second invitation and rammed the ball home to halve the deficit.
Just minutes beforehand, Alana Jancevski had seen one of her strikes bounce twice off the Canberra crossbar so perhaps Glory were due this little slice of luck, and there is no doubt they grew in confidence from this.
Rylee Baisden enjoying life in the West
The American import came to Glory after last playing in A-League Women three seasons ago, when she made 11 appearances for Brisbane Roar and scored three goals.
Her five appearances for Glory have so far netted four goals, and on Sunday she also provided an assist for fellow American Cyera Hintzen. Baisden is now equal second in the Golden Boot race and third in the league for combined number of goals and assists.
Baisden has quickly settled into her new surroundings after arriving from NWSL side North Carolina Courage, and she is obviously enjoying the environment as she didn’t play a full 90 minutes in 2022 for the Courage, scoring just one goal.
Glory will be hoping she can continue this goalscoring form as they attempt to kick-start their season after Sunday’s win.
Glory needs to improve their home form
There was much made about the lack of home games during Glory’s disrupted 2021/22 season. It was felt that by having more genuine home games in this campaign they would be able to kick on from last season and finish in the top four for the first time since Sam Kerr played for them in 2018/19.
However, their form in Western Australia since Kerr left doesn’t suggest that they will be guaranteed many extra points – their win on Sunday was just the third in WA since 2018/19 and their first of this campaign.
Perth’s away form is better and they are unbeaten on their travels this season with two draws. In their 2020/21 wooden spoon season the only point they picked up was away from home, so the need to improve home form is obvious.
At home so far this season Glory has always had to chase the game, and whilst they were able to do so successfully for the first time on Sunday, coach Alex Epakis would probably prefer to be leading games early rather than trying to fight from behind.
