Perth Glory have their first point of the Westfield W-League campaign after Kim Carroll’s 90th minute goal earned her side a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Canberra United on Friday night.
The visitors had the better of the chances on a night where either side could have scored multiple goals, but Carroll’s 90th minute strike drew Perth level and left United to rue a plethora of missed opportunities to seal all three points.
Both Perth and Canberra enjoyed bright starts to the game but the visitors struck first through Simone Charley, who scored her fourth goal of the 2019/20 Westfield W-League campaign, and her third against the Glory.
Perth reacted positively to going down and had a number of half-chances as they tried to draw level, with Crystal Thomas and Leticia McKenna trying their best to beat United goalkeeper Sham Khamis from distance, but to no avail.
The half-time break was much needed for both sides as they battled the extreme Perth heat, but Glory came out of the sheds in the second half looking the better side.
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McKenna found herself amongst the action early in the second stanza but the 17-year-old couldn’t capitalise on a double chance to draw her side level, instead firing her initial shot into Kaleigh Kurtz and the follow-up into Khamis and out for a corner.
After Glory’s fast start to the second half United clicked back into gear, forging four fantastic chances in quick succession which they were unable to capitalise on.
First it was Elise Thorsnes pulling a shot from inside the box wide of the left post and moments later Leena Khamis had her chance to score, smacking a vicious volley into the corner of the crossbar and right-hand goalpost which somehow failed to drop into the net.
But Canberra weren’t done there; as the post continued to rattle from Khamis’ shot Karly Roestbakken and Camila got in on the action, seeing their attempts from close range kept out of the net by some excellent goalkeeping by Eliza Campbell.
With their backs to the wall the Glory managed to find some respite through a rapid counter attack by Kat Jukic, who dispatched a shot from distance which had Khamis beaten but the ball rattled off the crossbar and away to safety.
But just when it seemed Canberra were set to record back-to-back wins the unlikeliest of goalscorers stepped up for Perth in Carroll, who rose highest from a corner in the 90th minute to head home an equaliser which earned the Glory their first point of the Westfield W-League campaign.
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Key moments
Charley gives United the lead
Simone Charley displayed athleticism and attacking nous as she tore Perth’s defence apart to score the opening goal of the game.
The American showed blistering pace to burn past Glory’s defenders and latch onto a long ball from Kurtz, cut around Tash Rigby into the box and bury her shot past Campbell and into the back of the net.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6115565864001
Campbell parries Thorsnes strike away
Thorsnes found herself in space on the edge of the box and deployed a dipping shot off her right boot towards the top left corner of goal, but Westfield Matildas goalkeeper Campbell was alert to the danger.
With one step to her right Campbell set herself for an athletic dive, getting two hands to the effort and sending the ball out for a corner.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6115570115001
Four chances to go two ahead come and go for Canberra
United produced a flurry of chances in the second half and could have scored four times within a matter of minutes with Thorsnes, Khamis, Roestbakken and Celia all going close to sending their side two goals ahead.
Only the woodwork stood between Khamis scoring an emphatic goal on the volley, but it was Campbell who stood up to keep her side in the game with two crucial blocks to deny Roestbakken and Celia shortly afterwards.
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Jukic rattles the crossbar
Under relentless Canberra pressure Perth almost found an unlikely equaliser after Jukic’s opportunistic strike from long range hammered into the crossbar.
The 30-year-old hammered her shot from distance and caught United goalkeeper Khamis off guard but couldn’t get enough dip on her strike which hurtled off the bar and out for a goal kick.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6115574598001
Campbell to the rescue – again
Canberra continued to push late and should have sealed the win with two chances in quick succession, but Campbell was on hand once again to keep United’s attack at bay.
With Thorsnes bearing down on goal Campbell rushed out to block low at the striker’s feet, then sprung back into action to deny Olivia Price what would have been a delightful volleyed goal.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6115577561001
Carroll delights the home crowd with late equaliser
To say Perth needed a goal was an understatement, and they found one through centre back Carroll at the death to rescue a point – their first of the campaign.
Carroll went forward for a late corner and launched into a perfectly-weighted delivery from Thomas, rising highest amongst a number of green shirts to thunder an emphatic header into the back of the net.
The scenes which ensued were an equal expression of jubilation and relief as Glory pegged United back, and proceeded to hold on to the point for dear life until the final whistle blew.
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