Returning fan favourite Caitlin Doeglas scored a goal on her return for Perth Glory but it wasn’t enough as Sydney FC battled back to seal a 1-1 draw at the Sam Kerr Football Centre.
Glory opened the scoring in the 24th minute and it was a crowd favourite who bagged the goal; forward Doeglas converting from inside the box after a goalkeeping error from Tahlia Franco cost her side dearly.
Sydney FC pulled themselves level in first-half stoppage time as Lucy Johnson scored her second goal in as many games to restore parity for the Sky Blues.
Both sides had chances to seal the win in the second-half with Perth keeper Casey Dumont pulling off a series of top saves to ensure the points were shared.
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The result leaves Perth Glory sat in 10th place in the Ninja A-League while the draw helps Sydney FC move off the foot of the ladder, leapfrogging rivals Western Sydney Wanderers on goal difference.
Sydney FC fashioned the first real chance of the game and it fell to forward Shea Connors in the 17th minute; the American’s powerful strike tipped onto the bar by Glory keeper Casey Dumont.
The duo then came face-to-face once again, this time in the 19th minute, as Connors was put through one-on-one but was thwarted by the shot-stopper as she attempted to dribble round Dumont.
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Despite the Sky Blues having the better chances it was the home side who took the lead in the 24th minute and it was a gift from Sydney FC keeper Franco.
Failing to deal with a routine ball into the box, Franco’s indecision allowed Gabby Hollar to pick-up the loose ball and the American forward cooly picked out the unmarked Doeglas who fired the ball into an empty net.
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The moment was a particularly sweet one for fan-favourite Doeglas who was put straight into the starting line-up by head coach Stephen Peters, despite having only been registered to play on gameday after she returned to the club as as an injury replacement for Kelli Brown.
Out of nowhere, the Sky Blues found themselves level going into the break thanks to another long range effort from Johnson.
Given the ball on the edge of the Perth box, Johnson sent what looked to be a cross high into the night’s sky and it subsequently caught Dumont off guard as the ball looped over the head of the keeper and into the net.
Not happy with what he’d seen, Sky Blues boss Ante Juric made two changes at the break, swapping Connors for Caley Tallon-Henniker and, surprisingly, subbing off goalkeeper Franco for Brianna Edwards.
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Both sides had several half chances before substitute Mackenzie Hawkesby went close to putting Sydney FC in front; the midfielder denied by a smart save from Dumont inside the box.
The away side then began to pepper the Perth goal and Dumont was again called into action, this time in the 74th minute, palming away a fierce effort from Princess Ibini on what was her 150th appearance for Sydney FC.
Edwards was then tested in the 83rd minute as Glory sub Ella Lincoln lashed a shot towards goal which the keeper batted away to safety.
The Sydney FC shot-stopper was almost then caught out in the 87th minute but she manage to scramble across her line to prevent a Georgia Cassidy free-kick sneaking in at the near post.
