Perth Glory and Canberra United have played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in the Westfield W-League at Clipsal Stadium on a scorching hot Saturday afternoon in Perth.
The Glory got the jump on a winless Canberra by scoring two quick goals inside the first ten minutes to appear on track for a second straight win, but United got better the longer the game went despite the 37-degree day.
Second half goals to Shu O Tseng and Ashleigh Sykes secured the draw for a gutsy Canberra side that appeared dead and buried after just 10 minutes.
The result gives the Glory a loss, win and draw from the opening three Westfield W-League matches this season, while the draw breaks a run of two losses to begin the campaign for Canberra.
Perth got the perfect start in the sixth minute when Lisa de Vanna was fouled in the penalty area by Ellie Brush. Collette McCallum took the penalty and got it by Canberra ‘keeper Lydia Williams and just inside the post to her left.
If the home fans thought their team would rest on that 1-0 lead, they were in for a shock when just two minutes later Marianna Tabain scored something of a freak goal.
A Canberra defender was attempting to clear the ball, but it ricocheted of Tabain, who was as stunned as anyone to then see the ball sail over Williams’ head and into the goal for Glory’s second of the afternoon.
Perth continued to dominate the opening period and could have added to the lead had Elisa D’Ovidio capitalised on a shot set up beautifully by de Vanna, or if another header from a free kick didn’t hit the sidebar.
Canberra slowly worked into the game before half-time and had a tremendous chance to score with a header from Eleanor Raymond after a good pass from Ellyse Perry, but Glory ‘keeper Emma Wirkus made a great save.
United continued to work its way into the game to start the second half and were starting to control proceedings when O Tseng goaled in the 61st minute.
Several of her teammates had attempts with their boot or head to score, but either hit the bar or found a Glory defender, but eventually O Tseng pounced and coolly put it into her net with her purple hair now haunting the purple clad Glory.
Canberra continued to press for an equaliser and it eventually came in the 82nd minute when a header from Ashleigh Sykes was too good for Wirkus. Despite the hot conditions, both teams pushed for an equaliser, but the draw was a fair result with both teams dominating for a half.
Canberra returns home to host Melbourne Victory next Saturday, while the Glory plays Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium also on Saturday.
Perth Glory 2 (McCallum 6, Tabain 8)
Canberra United 2 (O Tseng 61, Sykes 82)
