It was the smash-and-grab win that kept Perth Glory’s finals hopes alive, orchestrated by a star striker who Glory boss Alex Epakis has praised as “one of the benchmark” forwards of the Liberty A-League.
It came in the form of a 1-0 win on the road over Wellington Phoenix on Saturday afternoon; a superb display from the hosts produced 24 shots to Glory’s eight, with the ‘Nix keeping 60% of possession and causing Perth head coach Alex Epakis to “age very quickly” with a string of heart in mouth moments in his side’s defensive penalty area.
But one moment trumped all others throughout the 90 minutes – Glory striker Cyera Hintzen’s clinical 10th-minute finish which settled the unlikeliest of wins and kept Perth within five points of the top four.
MATCH REPORT: Glory edge Phoenix to keep finals hopes alive
In the aftermath of his side’s lucky escape, Epakis praised his match-winner as one of the pre-eminent performers in the Liberty A-League.
“I say it quite often back in Perth: I believe she’s one of the benchmark nines (strikers) in the competition,” Epakis said.
“Not just from a goalscoring capacity, but also from the work she (does) off the ball. Even until the 95th minute she’s back pressing players and helping out.
“For me, she’s the full package.”
Hintzen’s winning goal came off the American’s left foot in the form of a low, powerful strike rifled into the bottom-right corner of goal. Fringe Matildas midfielder Ella Mastrantonio sparked the chance with a neat ball to the feet of Hana Lowry in the box, whose first-time layoff to Hintzen opened up the space for the timely strike.
Epakis was similarly glowing in review of Lowry’s performance, providing a one-word description of his young star with the Matildas in her future: “Crafty.”
Epakis added: “She can do some pretty special things, and we’re really grateful to have her in the team. She’s popped up with some really important moments this season, and we just enjoy having her and I enjoy working with her.”
Glory now sit five points behind Melbourne Victory in fourth, with three games to play as opposed to Victory’s two.
Perth jumped Canberra United into fifth on Saturday after Njegosh Popovich’s side squandered a 1-0 lead against Victory to draw 1-1 at McKellar Park.
It was a result that hampered Canberra’s push toward the top four; a mission made all the more difficult by the Australian Professional Leagues (APL)’s decision in early March to dock the club three points for fielding an ineligible player in a 2-1 win over Sydney FC on February 11.
Canberra have appealed that decision and will receive the final verdict in the coming weeks. Popovich admits a reversal of that decision is likely his side’s best chance of making the top four after today’s draw to Victory. Canberra sit level on 22 points with Glory, but have played 16 games to date – one more than Glory and the same amount as Victory.
Each team will play 18 games in the 2022-23 A-League Women season.
Without the appeal going our way, we’re out of it. That’ll happen this week, hopefully we’ll know before our next match,” Canberra coach Njegosh Popovich said.
“It’s an old football cliche, they talk about a game of opportunities and chances and we had our opportunities and chances probably to win a couple more matches.
“Basically it’s a little bit out of our hands … we’re depending on some other results going our way.”
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MATCHDAY AGENDA
Melbourne City 1-1 Sydney FC
MATCH REPORT: Late equaliser earns City dramatic draw against Sky Blues
Wellington Phoenix 0-1 Perth Glory
MATCH REPORT: Glory edge Phoenix to keep finals hopes alive
Canberra United 1-1 Melbourne Victory
MATCH REPORT: Victory snatch draw with Canberra to boost finals hopes
