Perth Glory coach Bobby Despotovski all but conceded his side’s Westfield W-League finals hopes are gone following an incredible 4-4 draw with Canberra United on Saturday.
Glory ran out to a 3-0 lead inside the opening 22 minutes – with Sam Kerr netting twice – before a quick-fire double from Canberra’s Ash Sykes reduced the deficit.
Kerr completed her hat-trick on the stroke of half-time to make it 4-2 before Canberra scored again moments later to set up a thrilling second half.
Elise Thorsnes equalised for Canberra 15 minutes after the break and that proved to be the end of the scoring as the two teams played out an eight-goal thriller.
FULL TIME | WOW! What. A. Game. #PERvCBR #WLeague pic.twitter.com/gUhXOpzSTt
— Liberty A-League (@aleaguewomen) January 20, 2018
“We knew that we had to win and we just fell short,” Despotovski said post-match.
“As was the same last week, a few individual mistakes cost us the game, but we gave everything we had.
“Scoring four goals in a game of this importance and not coming away with all three points is a little bit disappointing.”
Glory sit two points behind fourth-placed Canberra with two rounds remaining, though Perth only have one match left to play.
Canberra coach Heather Garriock paid tribute to the excellence of Sam Kerr in the first half and admitted she was pleased with her side’s resolve to fight back from three goals down.
“I think we made our hard for ourselves early, but to be honest I think we still played the best football we’ve played all season,” Garriock said.
“I know each team says it each week with Sam Kerr, but her runs in behind and her finishing are exceptional and for her to score a hat-trick in the first half made it hard for us.
“But the character of the girls, the belief and just the want to win, that shone throughout the game and we unlucky not to get three points.”
REPORT |
The Wild West lived up to its moniker last night, as we came from three goals down to secure a 4-4 @WLeague draw with Perth Glory in Bunbury. PLUS, information on how you could join the team in Brisbane for Round 14.
Read: https://t.co/P8j6VI32El pic.twitter.com/nX3iHnd2Si— Canberra United (@CanberraUnited) January 21, 2018
