WAIS athlete Katie Gill continued her fine scoring record for the Perth Glory, as they withstood a large charge from Sydney FC to hang-on for an incredible 7-5 win.
A hat-trick to Lisa De Vanna singificantly helped the Perth Glory extend its lead at the top of the W-League table In a highly entertaining game where either side could have come out on top.
The match sprung to life in a crazy five-minute period early in the second half, where the Glory scored three times in quick succession through Aivi Luik and Elisa D’Ovidio.
Lillie Billson reduced the deficit with a cracking strike a minute later only for the De Vanna to give the Glory some breathing space with her second 18 minutes from the end.
But the scoring and drama was far from over.
Another long bomb from Caitlin Foord nine minutes from the end set up a grandstand finish before two goals in a minute to Katie Gill (87th) and De Vanna (88th) made the result safe for Jamie Harnwell’s side.
The result snaps a two-game winless run for the Glory and increases their lead at the top of the table to three points from Melbourne Victory, ahead of next weekend’s home clash with Canberra United.
There was no sign of the drama to come in a fairly quiet first half but De Vanna provided the first bit of quality on 13 minutes.
After receiving the ball from a clever flick from Gill, the Matildas star used her electrifying pace to get away from her marker before unleashing a pin-point shot inside the near post.
The visitors were worthy of their early lead and if not for some alert goal-keeping from Sian McLaren the Glory could have found themselves further in front.
Sydney also had their chances, with lively striker Lillie Billson almost drawing the Sky Blues level midway through the half, only for her rasping shot to come back off the post.
It was a sign of things to come and after the Glory lost ‘keeper Carly Telford to a hand injury, the home side hit back with two goals in two minutes just before the break.
The first came from a horror error from replacement goal-keeper Zoe Palandri, who fumbled Kerr’s easy cross, with Kyah Simon alert to poke home the loose ball from close range.
And before the visitors could regroup from the setback they were behind, Billson doing brilliantly to shake her defender down the right, before setting up Emma Kete, who finished powerfully into the corner of the net.
The late first-half flurry didn’t let up in the second period but it was the Glory who would come away with a thrilling win.
– FFA
