A brace to Veronica Latsko has cancelled out Sam Kerr’s two goals and helped Adelaide United salvage a 2-2 draw against Perth Glory in Round 6 of the Westfield W-League.
The 22-year-old opened the scoring on 22 minutes, before a Kerr brace in the first half gave Perth the lead at Marden Sports Complex.
Perth went down a player after Alyssa Mautz received her second yellow card, giving Adelaide the ascendancy and eventually paving the way for Latsko’s second.
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PLAYER PROFILE: Michelle Heyman – Adelaide United
Perth’s lethal trio hit the ground running in sweltering heat when, on 57 seconds, Kerr struck a defence-splitting volley from halfway, sending Rachel Hill in on goal. The American drove towards goal but was thwarted by Sarah Willacy who kept Adelaide in the game throughout.
Minutes later, Kerr would threaten Adelaide’s goal, but her neat exchange with Hill resulted in a shot straight at Willacy.
Perth’s profligacy would cost them dearly thanks to some clinical football from the hosts. Amber Brooks received the ball 20 metres out from her own goal, before firing a 50-metre ball over Perth’s three lines and into the path of Latsko just outside the box.
The American shrugged off Katie Naughton and, with ice-cold composure, slotted the ball into the bottom left corner past an onrushing Eliza Campbell.
And despite the goal galvanising Adelaide, they would surrender their lead 18 minutes later. Alyssa Mautz found herself free on the right flank and delivered a delicious cross into Kerr’s orbit. Campbell and Adelaide’s defence were unable to deal with the ball as Kerr restored parity via an open goal.
Minutes later, another two-thirds of Perth’s trio would give the visitors the lead and in some fashion too. Kerr made a late run in behind Adelaide’s defence and was found with laser-sharp precision, after Hill fired a 40-metre diagonal ball from the right flank.
With her first touch, Kerr chested the ball, before beating two defenders to fire home for her sixth goal of the 2018/19 Season.
The game appeared to lull due to heat and attrition, until Mautz went from hero to villain on 58 minutes. The American dragged down Laura Johns and received her marching orders, leaving Perth with 10-women for over half an hour.
Adelaide almost took the lead from the ensuing free-kick, but Emma Checker’s knee on the volley from two yards out struck the crossbar.
Perth held their own despite the deficit, but it was only a matter of time before Adelaide would make their numerical advantage count. Johns swung a delightful corner in and found Brooks whose header struck the left upright.
Latsko was quickest to react and fired home to draw level.
Adelaide would continue to dominate the last stages of the game and were unlucky not to snatch all three points. Michelle Heyman’s flick-on fell into the path of Latsko who, from less than six yards out, fired over the bar.
In the end 2-2 was a fair result for both sides who gave fans more than their money’s worth at Marden Sports Complex.
