Perth Glory fought back to earn a point off Melbourne Victory in a 1-1 draw at Leichhardt Oval on Friday afternoon, kicking off the A-Leagues Unite Round in Sydney.
Victory took a first-half lead through Rachel Lowe’s sixth goal of the Liberty A-League season, but a Jamilla Rankin own goal after half-time brought Glory back on level terms.
Victory’s Matildas striker Emily Gielnik made her long-awaited return from a calf injury in the second half but her injection off the bench couldn’t inspire Victory to find a second goal as the two sides shared the spoils in the Unite Round curtain raiser.
The result brought an end to Victory’s three-game losing streak, and prevented Perth from closing in on league-leaders Melbourne City; Glory began the weekend six points behind City and will remain in second place through Unite Round after Friday’s draw extended their advantage over third-place Western United to four points.
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Victory defender Kayla Morrison attempted to open the scoring early doors but her strike from range was wall saved by Morgan Aquino.
Sara D’Appolonia kept the Victory pressure rolling but miscued her attempt to let Glory off the hook – but just before the half-hour mark, a dangerous cross from Jamilla Rankin presented Rachel Lowe the chance to make it 1-0 – and the Victory midfielder obliged with a glancing header.
Glory enjoyed a strong finish to the half, and Quinley Quezada provided her side’s best chance of the opening 45 with an ambitious effort angled toward the top-right corner that had Victory keeper Courtney Newbon beat – but flashed just wide of the mark.
Perth upped the ante soon after half time, as Quezada sent Hana Lowry charging into the box to put Newbon to the test from a tight angle.
It was a warning of what was to come from the young Glory midfielder, who levelled the scores with an attempt struck directly from a corner.
Lowry’s ‘Olimpico’ finish goes down as an own goal to Jamilla Rankin, whose header in a congested goal mouth helped the whipping delivery on its way into the back of the net.
Claudia Mihocic kept up the Glory pressure and crashed the crossbar from distance; Newbon desperately lunged backward as the strike dipped over her head, repelling off the woodwork and onto the roof of the net.
Matildas striker Emily Gielnik came off the bench in the 74th minute for her first league appearance since November following a calf injury and her cross sparked a big chance for Lowe to double her tally for the afternoon.
Gielnik’s cross off the right wing was cleared by Glory but controlled by Lowe on the edge of the box. Her half volley was well saved by Aquino to keep it at 1-1.
Gielnik attempted a late overhead volley but Aquino made a comfortable save as five minutes of added time elapsed to confirm a share of the spoils for both teams at Leichhardt Oval.
The star
Rachel Lowe continued her fantastic debut season at Victory on Friday afternoon with a starring performance at Leichhardt Oval – but in the 1-1 draw with Perth, Lowe met her match in Glory keeper Morgan Aquino.
Lowe’s first-half goal was her sixth for the campaign – and the 23-year-old was so close to becoming the match-winner with goal number seven in the 76th minute, but was denied by a stellar save from Aquino.
Lowe put her head in her hands as she processed Aquino’s reflex save off a half-volley that looked set to sail into the back of the net, as Paramount+ co-commentator Leah Blayney said: “the save by Aquino… she’s made saves like this all season. It’s a fantastic reaction save.”
“Playing with confidence and authority, Morgan Aquino,” replied lead commentator Grace Gill.
The moment
In the second half at Leichhardt Oval came an important moment in Melbourne Victory’s season, as Matildas striker Emily Gielnik made her long-awaited return from a calf injury suffered two months ago to the day.
Gielnik succumbed to the calf injury against Newcastle Jets on November 12, and has been unsighted in the Liberty A-League ever since.
Victory are winless in four games and have dropped down the Liberty A-League standings as a result but the return of the 31-year-old could help Jeff Hopkins’ side turn it all around in the second half of the season – a prospect made even more likely with the timely arrival of fellow Matildas star Alex Chidiac who signed a multi-year contract to return to the club in late 2023.
“Emily Gielnik, returning to the field for Melbourne Victory,” said commentator Grace Gill as Gielnik’s number nine flashed green on the fourth official’s board.
“So wonderful to see the vastly experienced Matilda recovering from that calf injury. It’s wonderful to see her back on the field of play.”
