Perth Glory and Sydney FC registered 18 shots on target between them on Wednesday night but neither side was able to find the breakthrough in what was a frenzied goalless draw at the Sam Kerr Football Centre.
Sydney FC were immediately on the front foot and could have had two goals within two minutes if things had broken their way in the early stages. Jodi Ulkekul was set free and neatly cut back on her defender before firing over the bar, before a Perth mix-up while playing out from the back allowed Hana Lowry a shot that was saved at close range by Teresa Morrissey.
Ulkekul was denied again by Morrissey shortly thereafter before Glory began to settle on the ball and take control of possession. Sydney goalkeeper Heather Hinz saw her first action of the night, making a sharp save from a driving Rola Badawiya strike on 20 minutes.
Hinz was tested further throughout the half and made a crucial overhead catch on the line from an Izzy Dalton cross-shot at the half hour mark. She denied Susan Phonsongkham from a free kick minutes later and then blocked another Badawiya shot destined for goal. Milly Cassar complemented her teammate’s efforts to make an important block on the goal line in first-half stoppage time and keep scores at 0-0.
The second 45 began with Sydney FC back on the attack and it was after just 90 seconds that half-time substitute Mackenzie Hawkesby went close, sending a Riley Tanner cutback over the bar from 12 yards. Tanner was involved again less than 10 minutes later as her shot was excellently blocked over the bar by Mischa Anderson. The ensuing corner saw a goal mouth scramble cleared off the line by Perth.
Though Perth weren’t without their own chances in the second half. They had two penalty shouts turned down moments before Hinz continued her heroics from the first half. A stinging Emma Tovar drive was pushed over the bar prior to substitute Emma Lincoln having her left foot shot parried away by the diving goalkeeper.
As the clock ticked toward 90 minutes plus stoppage time, Perth defender Grace Johnston cleared a would-be Hawkesby Olimpico off the line and Glory threatened through substitute Tanika Lala, but neither team could find the elusive goal before referee Page Malau-Aduli blew the full-time whistle.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT THEY SAID
Perth Glory’s Natalie Tathem reflects on her return from a serious knee injury
Sydney FC midfielder Hana Lowry spoke to Paramount+ after the full time whistle.
