Perth Glory and Brisbane Roar could not be separated during an entertaining 0-0 draw at Dorrien Gardens on Saturday afternoon in the second round of the Westfield W-League.
Roar substitute Allira Tobey looked set to score the winner in the 90th minute after Glory’s Mexican international Arianna Romero uncharacteristically turned the ball over at the top of the box, but veteran defender Kim Carroll swiftly snuffed out the chance to ensure the points were shared.
Opposing goalkeepers Melissa Maizels and Mackenzie Arnold were kept busy throughout the match, with both teams creating multiple chances to break the deadlock.
Maizels was called into action in the 20th minute, throwing her body on the line to punch clear a dangerous cross from Brisbane winger Emily Gielnik.
Glory skipper Sam Kerr had three one-on-one chances in the opening 30 minutes, however, Arnold was equal to the task on each occasion.
Gielnik put the ball in the back of the net in the 12th minute after being brilliantly fed by Katrina Gorry, but was ruled offside.
Roar midfielder Sunny Franco appeared to have given her team the edge on the stroke of half-time after heading the ball home, only to be thwarted by the assistant referee and his offside flag.
Gielnik and Gorry continued to cause headaches for the Glory defence in the second half, with Maizels forced to tap the ball over the crossbar to deny Gorry from scoring from outside the box on one occasions.
Kerr, Nikki Stanton and Alyssa Mautz were equally dangerous for the home side at the other end of the pitch.
Maizels, who joined Perth this season from Canberra United, said the relationship with her new teammates in the back half was crucial to the final result.
“You need to have a connection between the defensive four and the keeper to ensure everything is in sync, everything’s moving as it should,” Maizels said.
“We knew a win would get us back to the top of the ladder, but a hard-fought draw we’ll take it.
“The plan is to go unbeaten at home. We should really have a fortress here and no team should be able to travel out west and take points off us.”
Arnold, who played in Glory colours for the past two seasons, was determined not to let her good friend and Matildas teammate Kerr claim bragging rights.
“I’ve got a bit of a history with Sammy, playing on the same team with her, so I couldn’t let her score,” Arnold said.
“I sort of just stood there and hoped for the best.”
Arnold was also full of praise for Glory’s emerging group of youngsters, including Caitlin Doeglas, Carla Bennett and Sarah Carroll.
“I played with a lot of Perth’s young players coming through and to see them step up today like they did was a real step forward for them,” she said.
The women move forward to next week’s away fixture against Newcastle on Sunday 20th November.
Match Details
Perth Glory 0
Brisbane Roar 0
Attendance: 659 at Dorrien Gardens, Perth
Referee: Lara Lee
Assistants: Matthew Southern, Shane Skinner
Fourth Official: Tom Dowle
SQUADS
PERTH GLORY: 1. Melissa MAIZELS (GK), 2. Sarah CARROLL, 3. Kim CARROLL, 4. Alyssa MAUTZ, 5. Patricia CHARALAMBOUS (6. Carla BENNETT 85’), 7. Nicole STANTON, 9. Rosie SUTTON, 10. Vanessa DIBERNARDO (13. Jaymie GIBBONS 53’), 14. Caitlin DOEGLAS (8. Shawn BILLAM 68’), 20. Samantha KERR, 22. Arianna ROMERO
Subs not used: 18. Gabby DAL BUSCO (GK)
Yellow cards: Arianna Romero 65’
Red cards: Nil
BRISBANE ROAR: 1. Mackenzie ARNOLD (GK), 3. Amy CHAPMAN (8. Kaitlyn TORPEY 78’), 4. Clare POLKINGHORNE, 6. Angela BEARD, 7. Sunny FRANCO (12. Allira TOBY 63’), 10. Katrina-Lee GORRY, 11. Maili FORBES (13. Tameka BUTT 67’), 14. Summer O’BRIEN, 16. Nina FRAUSING-PEDERSEN, 17. Emily GIELNIK, 18. Madlyn EVANS
Subs not used: Georgina WORTH (GK)
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil
