Perth Glory made a winning start to the season with a 2-1 victory over Brisbane Roar at Ashfield Reserve in the opening round of the Westfield W-league on Sunday.
2013 golden boot winner Kate Gill scored a brace, including a penalty, to start Glory’s campaign, and Emily Gielnik scored in the final minute for Brisbane.
The home side dominated the match and utilised Samantha Kerr’s pace, whose shot in the 12th minute was fumbled by keeper Kate Stewart, allowing Gill to slide the ball into the bottom right corner of goal.
Brisbane struggled to contain Kerr but had a promising spell around the half hour mark with Gielnik and Hayley Raso finding their efforts denied by keeper Mackenzie Arnold.
Glory continued their pressure in the second half and were awarded a penalty in the 53rd minute after Kerr was brought down by Raso and Gill cooly converted to double their lead.
Captain Clare Polkinghorne worked hard in midfield for the visitors with support from Katrina Lee-Gorry, but they lacked options in the final third.
They looked unlikely to score but got a goal in the 94th minute after Gielnik found space in the box and flicked the ball past a flat-footed Mackenzie.
After a comfortable win Glory looked in good form for next week’s away match against Newcastle Jets in round two.
Perth Glory 2 (Gill 12′, 52′)
Brisbane Roar (Gielnik 94′)
