Perth Glory have turned the Liberty A-League finals race on its head, stunning reigning champions Melbourne Victory 2-0 at AAMI Park to keep their top four hopes well and truly alive.
REACTION: ‘Inspired substitutions’ from Perth expose Victory as ‘one-half team’
The Glory broke the deadlock when Victory striker Catherine Zimmerman turned the ball into her own net in the 69th minute, with Leena Khamis doubling the margin four minutes later.
Perth remain fifth on 21 points but are now just one point behind fourth-placed Victory and three behind Melbourne City and Adelaide United, though both Melbourne teams have games in hand on the Glory.
The fatigued Victory’s day was further soured when youngster Alana Murphy was forced off with an ankle injury in the 31st minute, compounding an injury to Amy Jackson suffered mid-week that will likely end her regular season campaign.
Jackson confirmed to Paramount+ she’d torn her calf against Sydney FC and was awaiting scan results, but hoped to return for finals.
Perth goalkeeper Morgan Aquino was injured in the warm-up with Courtney Newbon recalled in her place, while Victorian youngster Claudia Mihocic made her league debut for Glory at centre-back.
Both teams had decent chances without reward in a first-half stalemate, but the game changed when Glory coach Alex Epakis turned to Lisa De Vanna with half an hour left.
The veteran added an immediate burst of energy, skidding a shot wide in the 61st minute, while two minutes later Tiffany Eliadis headed a would-be Perth goal off the line.
Perth called on substitutes Khamis and Aideen Keane in the 68th minute and a minute later the all-out attack approach paid off.
Deborah-Anne De la Harpe’s corner to a mass of players nicked Zimmerman and nestled in the Victory goal.
Keane then whipped a cross to the near post where Cyera Hintzen brilliantly worked Casey Dumont out of position and flicked the ball to Khamis to head home.
Dumont denied Khamis a second with a fine save in the 76th minute but Victory were unable to fight back.
LIVE FEED
By Matthew Comito for KEEPUP
FULL-TIME: VICTORY 0-2 GLORY
Perth struck twice in four second-half minutes to record a stunning 2-0 win over Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park on Saturday afternoon.
This was Perth’s sixth win for the season – a result which takes Alex Epakis’ side within one point of fourth-placed Victory.
REPORT: Finals-chasing Glory stun Victory in ALW
KEY MOMENTS
- (6.23PM AEDT) GOAL! KHAMIS OFF THE BENCH AND ONTO THE SCORESHEET
Perth are two goals to the good through veteran Liberty A-League forward Leena Khamis, who benefited from a neat flick from Hintzen at the near post to head home from close range.
Perth are two goals to the good and on the cusp of a stunning win at AAMI Park.
- (9.16PM AEDT) GOAL! LETH JANS PUTS PERTH ON TOP
The visitors showed their intent with some aggressive second-half substitutions, and after getting on the front foot Glory have taken the lead through yet another Leth Jans header from a Perth corner.
Leth Jans flicked the ball toward goal, with it coming off the legs of both Catherine Zimmerman and Harriet Withers on its way into the back of the net.
- (6.12PM AEDT) VICTORY CLEAR OFF THE LINE
A Mie Leth Jans near-post header from a Glory corner routine is becoming a trademark from the Danish international in the Liberty A-League; but on this occasion Tiffany Eliadis was on the goal-line to clear the danger and keep scores locked at 0-0.
- (6.09PM AEDT) DE VANNA ON FOR PERTH
Lisa De Vanna is off the bench for the final 30 minutes of play at AAMI Park. The Matildas legend played a key role in Victory’s 2020/21 championship, and returns to face her former side as Perth chase all three points.
It’s goalless after an hour of play, as De Vanna takes a shot on goal from distance just seconds after coming on which goes wide.
- (5.40pm AEDT) HALF-TIME: VICTORY 0-0 GLORY
There’s nothing to separate these two sides at the half-time break as Perth and Victory go into the sheds level after a goalless 45 minutes.
- (5.30PM AEDT) HINTZEN CALLS DUMONT INTO ACTION
Cyera Hintzen goes closest for Perth in the first half. Driving down the left wing, the United States forward drove a shot across goal toward the bottom-right corner, forcing Casey Dumont to palm the ball out for a corner.
- (5.20PM AEDT) CHANCES FOR VICTORY
Melbourne Victory have had the best two chances of the first half an hour. Catherine Zimmerman flashed a long-range strike just over the bar, and a cross from Lia Privitelli causes Newbon into a save to protect the gap at the near post.
- (4.50PM AEDT) KICK-OFF AT AAMI PARK
Courtney Newbon replaces Morgan Aquino in goals for Perth after the latter’s injury in her team’s warmup.
