Glory, Mariners miss chance to move into ALW top six
Nicholas Zorbas |
With the A-League Women season entering its final weeks, Perth and Central Coast have both missed a golden opportunity to move into the top six.
With the Matildas, featuring three ALW players in their squad, taking on Japan in the Asian Cup final later on Saturday night in Sydney, the Glory and Mariners threw everything at it on a hot afternoon at Sam Kerr Football Centre in Perth.
But the scoreless draw left the seventh-placed Glory (24) one point and one spot behind Brisbane, with the Mariners another point adrift. The Mariners have three games left in their regular season, while the Roar and Perth have two.
“We were giving it away cheaply in that final third … the possession at least felt like we had a lot of it out here today,” said Glory skipper Isobel Dalton.
“Just putting away chances, that’s what we need.”
Both sides were coming off last-out losses and had drawn 1-1 in their previous clash at Central Coast Stadium in January.
Perth’s leading goalscorer Rola Badawiya (four) had two left-footed shots saved by keeper Annalee Grove, after a Millie Farrow run and cut-back was not finished off by the visitors in the 21st minute.
Mariners midfielder Avaani Prakash went close in the 32nd, but the teenager’s right-footed shot went wide after again good play down the left.
Tamar Levin’s long-ranger was spectacularly saved by Glory goalkeeper Teresa Morrissey just before the end of the first half, and on the other side of the break the same two players provided another highlight, where Morrissey again came out on top.
From the ensuing corner kick, there was a goal-mouth scramble before Levin struck the crossbar and Perth cleared.
Substitute Sarah O’Donoghue had a wonderful chance to win it for the hosts in the 85th minute, and a missed Tiana Fuller free kick deep into added time meant a first 0-0 draw between the sides.
AAP