A dominant performance from Perth substitute Sam Kerr has seen the Glory move into fourth spot on the Westfield W-League table with a tight 1-0 victory over Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium in the televised Saturday match.
The Glory rode their luck in patches, with United dominating the majority of the first 45 minutes, the Glory were indebted to former United ‘keeper Emma Wirkus and some terrific last ditch defending from Dani Calautti and Sadie Lawrence to keep the Perth side in the match.
The second half was a reversal of sorts, with the Glory storming out of the blocks and hitting what proved to be the winner in the 48th minute when Alex Singer hit a bouncing Kerr cross into the roof of the net from eight yards.
Singer’s effort saw the Glory snare the momentum, with Elisa D’Ovidio crashing an 18 yard strike off the cross bar only minutes later following a half cleared corner.
Glory coach John Gibson elected to start Kerr on the bench after her exertions in Myanmar with the U16 Australian side during the past two weeks, but she was called into early action after only 31 minutes when the starlet replaced Matildas striker Lisa De Vanna.
Kerr was immediately in the action with Glory’s first shot, forcing a fine save from the United ‘keeper. The Young Matildas representative had only Adelaide keeper Sian McLaren to beat after dancing past Ebony Weidenbach, but she pulled the trigger too early and McLaren was able to make a desperate save.
Rachael Quigley was lively up front for the home side, and played her part in one of United’s best chances for the day at the 58th minute – a spirited frenzy in the box that resulted in Calautti clearing off the line to preserve the Glory clean sheet.
Perth continued to direct its attack through Kerr in the second half, and she remained a constant headache for McLaren, who had to make a number of great saves to deny Kerr who had no less than three excellent one on one chances but was repeatedly left frustrated by the United ‘keeper.
Elisa D’ovidio also went close on a handful of occasions, with the Glory holding on to the three points that moves them into fourth position following the 1-1 draw between Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar.
The Glory will face table toppers Roar next weekend in Brisbane.
– Football West
