Canberra United secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Perth Glory at McKellar Park on Saturday, thanks to an opportunistic goal from former Glory defender Liz Anton. This victory not only marked Canberra’s second win in three games but also highlighted the challenges faced by Perth, who now sit nine points adrift of the finals positions.
The match began with both teams engaged in a tactical battle, but it was Perth Glory who seemed to dominate the first half. With 62% possession and 16 shots fired at goal, they were the more threatening side. Nonetheless, the half ended goalless, as Canberra managed to hold firm defensively, with goalkeeper Sally James going untested.
Despite being on the back foot for much of the first half, Canberra struck first just 11 minutes after the break. Anton found the net when she turned home from close range after her team executed a corner routine effectively. The ball fell loose following Casey Dumont's partial clearance, and Anton pounced on it to score, sending Canberra fans wild.
"Liz Anton’s close range effort 11 minutes... was enough to claim victory for Canberra United over her former side Perth Glory at McKellar Park today," reported Ben Gilby. Anton's scoring contribution, her fourth against the Glory, showcased both her skill and resilience as she has continued to haunt her former club.
Following the goal, Perth Glory tried to answer back with increasing urgency. They created several opportunities, including attempts from Tijan McKenna and Sarah O’Donoghue. O'Donoghue had returned to the squad after overcoming injury, and her presence made the Glory attack more dynamic. Yet, they struggled to find the net, with their best chance coming from Onyi Zogg, whose shot hit the post, narrowly missing the equalizer.
Despite Perth's continued pressure and their 15 shots throughout the match, they failed to convert any of their chances. Canberra’s strong defensive structure, assisted by keeper James’s timely saves, ensured the visitors left McKellar Park empty-handed. "It was a battling performance which deserved more reward than they walked away with due to an inability to capitalise in front of goal," noted The West Australian.
With this win, Canberra United moved up on the Ninja A-League table, now level with Brisbane Roar at 21 points. The competitive nature of this year’s league means every point counts, and Canberra's recent form has fans hopeful about their prospects for inclusion in the finals. They have lost only one of their last six matches, which is encouraging as they continue to fight for their spot.
On the other hand, this defeat was another blow to Perth’s already slim hopes of competing for finals football. The team now finds itself eight points behind the top six with nine games remaining, making their path to the finals exceedingly difficult. The mounting pressure on head coach Stephen Peters is palpable, as injuries now plague the squad, including the absence of impactful midfielder Georgia Cassidy.
Canberra’s coach Antoni Jagarinec will be pleased with the result and the character his team displayed, particularly how they managed to turn their limited chances—Canberra had only three shots on target throughout the match—into the winning goal. This kind of efficiency will be pivotal as they aim to continue their upward trend.
Looking forward, Canberra United is deep within the mix for the finals, with five teams separated by just four points between fourth and eighth positions. Meanwhile, Perth must regroup quickly if they hope to salvage their season and maintain any realistic ambitions for playoff contention.
With every match bringing new challenges and opportunities, both teams will undoubtedly take lessons from this encounter as they prepare for their next battles within the league.