Perth Glory have ended their season on the road with a resounding 3-1 win over the Wellington Phoenix but it wasn’t enough for them to advance to the A-League Women finals series.
Alex Epakis’ side needed a win in Wollongong and for Canberra to defeat Melbourne Victory in order to leapfrog Victory into fourth spot on the ladder.
If Canberra secured a draw, Perth would have needed to put nine goals past Wellington to better Victory’s goal difference.
As it happened, Victory claimed a 0-0 draw against Canberra to clinch the last finals spot on goal difference.
Perth didn’t die wondering, however, with an Isabel Gomez own goal giving them a 1-0 lead at the break before Cyera Hintzen and Aideen Keane extended their advantage after the hour mark.
Wellington, who were aiming to avoid the wooden spoon in their inaugural season, were by no means outplayed by Perth but were forced into shooting from distance whenever they entered the final third.
They got their reward for a dogged display in a tough inaugural season, all spent away from home, when Grace Jale slotted a penalty in the dying stages.
Glory’s breakthrough came at a set piece with Deborah-Anne de la Harpe whipping in a corner and Natasha Rigby getting her head to it.
Unfortunately for Wellington the ball bounced off Gomez’ foot and past Phoenix goalkeeper Lily Alfeld into the back of the net.
Gomez had the chance to make amends for the first-half gaffe when she sent in an inch-perfect free-kick just after half-time, finding Te Reremoana Walker who could only glance her effort wide of the posts.
It was a rare opportunity to breach Glory’s stoic defence and Perth made them pay when Liz Anton sent in a delivery from the right flank in the 61st minute.
Hintzen popped up at the near post and got enough to it to place the ball beyond Alfeld.
Less than two minutes later Perth had their third goal when a slip-up from Wellington’s Kate Taylor allowed Keane to advance upfield and hammer home their advantage.
Cushla Rue was brought to ground late, allowing Jale to score her fourth goal in as many games as she buried the ball to the left.
RE-LIVE: Wellington v Perth, as it happened
By Matt Comito for KEEPUP
FULL-TIME: WELLINGTON 1-3 PERTH
A 3-1 win was exactly what Perth needed – but a 0-0 draw between Melbourne Victory and Canberra United has confirmed their fate: the Glory finish fifth, missing out on finals football on goal difference alone.
GOAL! Rue goes down under slight contact and Jale converts from the spot (6.49pm AEDT)
Grace Jale makes it 3-1 after Cushla Rue won the home side a penalty, going down under minimal contact to win the spot kick.
There’s four minutes to play and Perth look more than likely to secure three points here – but a late collapse isn’t impossible from the side leading by two goals.
GOALS! Hintzen and Keane strike in quick succession to Put Perth out of sight (6.25pm AEDT)
It’s almost job done for Perth as Cyera Hintzen scores the second for Alex Epakis’ side, squeezing Liz Anton’s cross past Lily Alfeld’s near post, before Aideen Keane put the visitors out of sight with strike on the counter less than two minutes later.
It’s 3-0 to Perth as Victory struggle in a 0-0 tussle with Canberra.
The two sides are locked on 24 points apiece on the live table. Should Canberra take the lead at AAMI Park the two teams will switch places on the table.
HALF-TIME
Perth are playing their part.
Leading 1-0 at the break, Perth are heaping the pressure on Victory to get a draw or more out of their clash with Canberra, which is 0-0 at half-time.
OWN GOAL! Gomez sends De la Harpe’s corner into her own net (5.30pm AEDT)
A swinging corner from Deborah-Anne De la Harpe has made its way into the back of the net via Tash Rigby’s head and the outstretched leg of ‘Nix midfielder Isabel Gomez.
It’s 1-0 to Perth – which puts them level on points with Melbourne Victory on the live ladder, with Victory currently locked at 0-0 with Canberra in the concurrent kick-off.
KICK-OFF (5.05PM AEDT)
It’s go time at WIN Stadium – and it’s all or nothing for both sides. Perth need a win to press for a spot in the top four, and the Phoenix are eager to notch a third win of the season.
