Sam Kerr capped another memorable week by scoring the only goal of the game as Glory cemented their position at the top of the Westfield W-League table with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Western Sydney Wanderers.
The Glory skipper returned to the side fresh from having starred for the Matildas and taken out the AFC Women’s Player of the Year Award and bagged what proved to be the winner early in the second half after being teed up by strike partner Rachel Hill.
The 24-year-old’s goal, her fifth of the season, was enough to see off the challenge of a spirited Wanderers side whose performance belied their lowly position in the table.
Nevertheless, it was the visitors who created the lion’s share of the chances at Marconi Stadium, with Kerr and Marianna Tabain both going close in the first half and another returnee from international duty, Raquel Rodriguez, almost making it 2-0 late on.
Glory’s goal itself was superbly executed, Kerr latching on to a fine ball from Hill and calmly rounding goalkeeper Jada Whyman before finding the empty net.
The hosts’ best chance, meanwhile, came on the hour-mark when Lo’eau La Bonta’s free-kick was well saved by Melissa Maizels in the Glory goal.
La Bonta continued to be Wanderers’ main threat throughout a lively encounter, but she failed to convert several decent half-chances as Glory held out to secure their fourth win in six games this season and their second on the road.
And in another plus for Bobby Despotovski’s side, Nikki Stanton completed her return to full fitness as she came on for Nicola Bolger at the start of the second half.
Glory’s gruelling travel schedule continues next week when they head east once again, this time to take on Newcastle Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday.
Western Sydney Wanderers 0 Perth Glory 1 (Kerr 50′)
Half-time 0-0
Marconi Stadium, Fairfield
Kick-Off: 4:30pm (Local) (4:30pm (AEDT))
Referee: Maddison Kennedy
Assistant Referee 1: Sarah Ho
Assistant Referee 2: Anastasia Filacouridis
Fourth Official: Kelly Jones
Western Sydney Wanderers FC Squad: 1.Jada WHYMAN (gk), 2.Maruschka WALDUS, 3.Jennifer BISSET (17.Katelyn LEADBEATTER 89′), 6.Lo’eau LABONTA, 7.Ellie BRUSH, 8.Erica HALLOWAY, 9.Rosie SUTTON (12.Rachel LOWE 71′), 10.Lee FALKON, 11.Marlous PIEETE, 13.Olivia PRICE (5.Kahlia HOGG 52′), 15.Talitha KRAMER
Substitutes not used: 20.Trudy BURKE (gk)
Yellow cards: None
Red cards: None
Perth Glory: 18.Melissa MAIZELS (GK), 2.Sarah CARROLL, 3.Kim CARROLL, 4.Natasha RIGBY, 8.Shawn BILLAM (6.Danielle BROGAN 70′), 9.Rachel HILL, 10.Raquel RODRIGUEZ, 11. Nicola BOLGER (7.Nicole STANTON 46′), 16.Amanda FRISBIE, 17.Marianna TABAIN (5.Patricia CHARALAMBOUS 84′), 20.Samantha KERR (c)
Substitutes not used: 30.Morgan AQUINO (GK)
Yellow cards: Kerr 60′
Red cards: None
#CREATEDESTINY
