A second wonder-strike from Lucy Johnson in as many weeks earned a point for Sydney FC in Western Australia against Perth Glory.
They were pegged back in the first half thanks to a strike from Caitlin Doeglas however just before half time, Lucy Johnson curled one into the top corner from outside the box.
Neither side was able to find the winner in the second half with both keepers making a few key stops to keep the scoring at one a piece.
Sydney FC 1 (Johnson 45’+1’) drew w. Perth Glory 1 (Doeglas 24’)
Moments That Mattered
17’ | CONNORS TIPPED ONTO THE POST – Shea Connors finds space from a tight angle and draws a save from Dumont who tips the ball off the up-right and gathers at the second attempt.
24′ | GLORY TAKE THE LEAD – Caitlin Doeglas is un-marked inside the box after the Sydney defence mis-judge the cross and the Glory midfielder taps into an open net.
45′ +1′ | JOHNSON SCORES FROM RANGE AGAIN – Just like last week, Lucy Johnson curls one into the top corner from the edge of the box, leaving Dumont with no chance!
57′ | DOS SANTOS DANCES AROUND THE DEFENCE – The teenager creates some space for herself inside the area and gets a shot away however Dumont holds.
74′ | HAWKESBY DENIED BY DUMONT – Mackenzie Hawkesby lets the ball run past her but her attempt is smothered by Dumont who races off her line quickly.
88′ | EDWARDS WITH A STRONG SAVE – The keeper dashes across her line to parry away a free-kick from a tight angle from Cassidy.
Match Report
On a mild Friday night in Perth, Ante Juric’s Sky Blues took on Perth Glory with both sides needing the three points just as much as each other.
With that in mind, Perth as the hosts came out the better at the games’ infancy and created the first meaningful chance of the game which forced Tahlia Franco into a neat save low to her left from inside the area.
After that slight scare, it sparked Sydney FC into life and they were unlucky not to go ahead when Shea Connors found space just inside the box.
The American turned and fired a shot towards Casey Dumont in net and the keeper tipped her effort off the post and to the relief of the home side, the ball fell kindly for them and they were able to clear it away.
Moment later, Connors had another chance as she was released in behind the defence and was eyeball to eyeball with Dumont but as she tried to go around her, the keeper read her mind and swiftly dived low to prevent that happening.
Unfortunately, Glory would take the lead after a mix-up in the FC defence. A long cross into the box was misjudged by Franco in the net and with the goal gaping, an unmarked Doeglas on the penalty spot was found and she tapped into an open goal.
Juric’s side had to respond and when it looked like they would head in behind at the interval, Lucy Johnson popped up with another stunning strike to level the contest.
Tobin hooked the ball back from the far side of the box and into the path of Johnson who calmly curled the ball with her left foot high and over the head of Dumont and into the far top corner.
At the break, Juric made a double change, bringing on Caley Tallon-Henniker and Bri Edwards for Shea Connors & Tahlia Franco respectively and the Sky Blues rallied forwards in search of the winner.
They looked the most likely to get that elusive second goal as Indiana Dos Santos attempted some trickery inside the box. It worked a treat to get around the defenders however the angle was tight and her shot went straight into the gloves of Dumont.
Once again Juric looked to his bench and brought the ever running Mackenzie Hawkesby onto the pitch and she would have the best chance of the half.
She allowed the ball to run past her body on the edge of the box and she turned facing goal and just as she tried her luck, the Glory keeper raced off her line to narrow the angle and Hawkesby was unable to get it underneath her in time.
Sydney weren’t giving up though, with Princess Ibini trying one from distance that took a nick toward goal and had to be palmed away by Dumont once more before Nat Tobin had another chance from range but again that failed to find the net.
Perth were the better of the two teams in the final 15 minutes and drew two diving saves from Bri Edwards in the final moments, one from a marauding run down the wing from Ella Lincoln and the other from the set piece from Georgia Cassidy.
As the whistle blew for both teams and the spoils were shared, a point doesn’t really help either team and now the Sky Blues will look to bounce back against Canberra United on Wednesday night at Leichhardt Oval.
What They Said
Ante Juric: “The result is not what we wanted and or expected.
“It was a game that we were in control of for the most part. Unfortunately we handed Perth a goal, which was disappointing, though the reaction to it showed me there is plenty of fight and grit within the group.
“We have been working on the front third and creating scoring chance and on keeping possession better. We are getting there.
“There is a total of 39 points left to play for. We will work hard to get as many as we can from now until the end of the season. We are positive that we will turn things around.”
Sydney FC: 30. Tahlia FRANCO (GK) (1. Brianna EDWARDS (GK) HT), 2. Margaux CHAUVET, 3. Faye BRYSON, 4. Tori TUMETH, 9. Shea CONNORS (24. Caley TALLON-HENNIKER HT), 12. Nat TOBIN (C), 16. Jordan THOMPSON, 20. Princess IBINI (18. Amber LUCHTMEIJER 90′), 21. Lucy JOHNSON, 22. Indiana DOS SANTOS, 26. Maddie CASPERS (15. Mackenzie HAWKESBY 68′).
Unused Subs: 14. Abbey LEMON.
Yellow Cards: Johnson 90′
Red Cards: None.
Perth Glory: 1. Casey DUMONT (GK), 4. Claudia VALLETTA (7. Megan WYNNE 58′), 5. Grace JOHNSON, 8. Georgia CASSIDY, 9. Gabrielle HOLLAR, 11. Natalie TATHEM, 12. Caitlin DOEGLAS (25. Ella LINCOLN 79′), 13. Naomi CHINNAMA, 14. Miku SUNAGA, 27. Charli WAINWRIGHT (6. Tijan MCKENNA 58′), 29. Onyinyechi ZOGG (C).
Unused Subs: 21. Miranda TEMPLEMAN (GK), 18. Isabella FOLETTA.
Yellow Cards: Cassidy 47′
Red Cards: None
Venue: Sam Kerr Football Centre
Attendance: 1,139
Referee: Rachel Mitchenson
