Melbourne City registered successive wins for the first time in the 2020/21 Westfield W-League campaign after edging Perth Glory 1-0 at Dorrien Gardens on Friday night.
Rhali Dobson made the difference in the 67th minute of play in a game which City dominated in possession without troubling Lily Alfed in goal for Perth for large parts of the contest.
Caitlin Doeglas was the liveliest of Perth’s attackers throughout the game, hitting the side netting in the first half and regularly venturing into dangerous space on either flank, only to be thwarted on numerous occasions by the offside flag.
It was Doeglas who set up the home side’s best chance of the night, getting down the left wing and cutting a cross back to Hana Lowry on the edge of the box, whose resulting shot stung the gloves of City ‘keeper Melissa Barbieri.
But that was all Perth could muster on the night, as City dug deep to notch their third win of the season, and second on the bounce.
The result extended Perth’s losing run to seven games – a club record. The West Australian outfit are now virtually guaranteed to finish at the foot of the Westfield W-League table, trailing Newcastle Jets by six points with a goal difference of -18 compared to Newcastle’s -3.
Key Moments
The visitors dominated possession in the first half and went closest to breaking the deadlock with just two minutes on the clock, when Jenna McCormick headed Chinatsu Kira’s corner to the front post over to crossbar.
It was all City could muster in an attacking sense throughout the first half, as Rado Vidosic’s side proceeded to keep plenty of the ball without troubling the Glory defence.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6241901572001
Doeglas was the bright spark for the hosts in the opening 45 minutes of play.
The Perth forward showed the ability to get in behind City’s defence with a blistering run past McCormick and left-footed shot on 12 minutes which lashed the side-netting and dropped out for a goal kick.
The home fans were on their feet in celebration momentarily before noticing the ball had sailed the wrong side of the post.
Both sides mustered just three attempts on goal each in the first half. City held nearly 70% of possession at the break while Perth had committed to 12 tackles opposed to their opponent’s two, giving chase for the majority of play.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6241906397001
Much like in the opening minutes of the game City emerged from the sheds to create an early chance in the second half.
The opportunity fell to Noor Eckhoff after Kira’s free kick into the box deflected off Deborah De La Harpe from Jamie-Lee Gale’s attempted clearance. But Eckhoff’s first-time shot was hit with too much power, and the close-range attempt sailed over the bar.
Doeglas continued to run into dangerous areas for Perth but was twice caught offside latching onto through balls from midfield. Samantha Johnson ventured forward to send a header on goal which Alfeld collected with ease, before Dobson broke the deadlock on 67 minutes.
Alex Chidiac found Dobson driving into the box down the right flank with an incisive through pass. Dobson took the ball in her stride with one touch and shot with her second; Alfeld got to the ball but her touch only pushed the ball further into the bottom left corner.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6241920524001
After going a goal down, Perth finally began to show some genuine attacking vigour.
Doeglas was involved again in Glory’s brightest forward play as Alexia Moreno set her free down the left flank. Doeglas gathered the ball and cut it back to find Lowry arriving on the tip of the box, who collected before dispatching a vicious shot which Melissa Barbieri did well to save.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6241921044001
Next Matches
Melbourne City v Perth Glory
Thursday, March 24 2021
Frank Holohan Reserve
Kick-off: 7.05pm AEDT
Match Centre
