PERTH SC 1-1 PERTH REDSTAR
Perth RedStar win 3-1 on penalties
By Ben Gilby
The Azzurri went down in a penalty shoot-out in the Top Four Cup tie with Perth RedStar yesterday – an outcome that means a midweek clash with Balcatta Etna to qualify for the Final.
Perth took a deserved lead in this extremely hard-fought match just before the interval thanks to Ella Lincoln, but Caitlin Doeglas turned home the equaliser after Azzurri keeper Dayle Schroeder had initially saved Jayna Ridley’s penalty with 20 minutes to play in the second half.
This match was originally due to be played on Saturday at Inglewood United, only for it to be postponed late due to a waterlogged pitch, with the consequence that the encounter was switched to RedStar Arena for today.
Azzurri head coach Tom Glavovic made two changes to his starting line-up from the team’s final round NPLW WA game a fortnight ago, with Georgia Cassidy coming in for Maja Archibald who was part of an extremely strong looking Perth bench, and Hannah Collins came in for Matilda Boehm.
RedStar started strongly, with Ridley linking up powerfully with Carla Bennett on the right, but gradually the NPLW WA champions gained the impetus.
With seven minutes on the clock, the Azzurri earned their first chance when Jess Flannery pounced on an error from goalkeeper Gabby Dal Busco and fired in an effort, but the former Perth Glory shot stopper recovered well to make a diving save.
Shortly afterwards, Lincoln turned her defender on the right and played a low pass across for Daisy McAllister, but the shot was blocked and went out for a corner that was dealt with.
With 12 minutes played, Lincoln flicked a header just wide of the left hand post. The attacker then went on to escape along the right again to cross for McAllister, who saw her header go just wide of the left hand post.
Just after the half hour mark, Flannery skipped her way past both Andreia Teixeira and Jay Coleman to lift a shot just wide of the right hand post.
However, just as the time ticked to the 45 minute mark, the Azzurri grabbed the goal that they richly deserved on the balance of play. Sam Mathers escaped along the right to feed Lincoln, who held off Emily Dunn brilliantly to slide the ball home from the right hand edge of the box.
The lead was soured slightly shortly afterwards when Cassidy had to leave the pitch as she pulled up running along the flank and appeared to hold her thigh. She was replaced by Ruby Marshall.
RedStar were fastest out of the blocks in the second half as well, and gained the first real chance when Renee Leota’s shot from the left hand edge of the six-yard box was saved by Schroeder.
With just over 20 minutes of normal time remaining, RedStar were awarded a penalty when Teixeira’s free-kick came in from the left and Leota went down in the box. Ridley stepped up and saw her spot kick parried by Schroeder. Doeglas was fastest to the re-bound to turn the ball into the net.
The remainder of the half was a real arm-wrestle with chances very few and far between. There was a penalty shout for Perth who believed there was a handball, but the officials didn’t agree.
Extra Time saw the tough battle continue. The better chances all fell the Azzurri’s way. Just before the end of the first period, Marshall was denied at the right hand post, with Emily Dunn putting in a superb block.
With five minutes remaining, Louise Tana saw her cross from the right come off the angle of post and bar, and that was that – the game went to be decided by penalties.
Mathers’ hit Perth’s first penalty, but Dal Busco produced an excellent save to emphasise her team’s early advantage from Doeglas’ first spot kick. Ridley doubled her side’s advantage, before Kim McCartney saw her penalty come back off the post after the ball moved on the spot as she was about to strike it initially.
Schroeder kept the Azzurri in it by saving Leota’s effort, and hopes were buoyed further when Tijan McKenna succeeded.
Then the final decisive twist. Up stepped Alkira Mogridge to score for RedStar. Heartbreakingly for Perth, Ruby Marshall’s kick went over the top which clinched RedStar’s win – an outcome that puts them straight into next Saturday’s Top Four Cup Final.
Perth SC now face Balcatta Etna in midweek – win that, and they will have the chance to face RedStar once more for the Top Four Cup.
Teams: PERTH SC: Schroeder, Longmore, Nossent, Collins, McCartney, McKenna, McAllister, Mathers, Cassidy, Lincoln, Flannery. Substitutes: Marshall, Tana, Archibald, Ottobrino, Ingrey.
Scorer: Lincoln 45’.
Penalties: Mathers (saved), McCartney (hit post), McKenna (scored), Marshall (over bar).
PERTH REDSTAR: Dal Busco, Teixeira, Monteiro, Dunn, Woolley, Bennett, Bellanca, Coleman, Ridley, Leota, Doeglas. Substitutes: Doan, Lornie, Skinner, Mogridge.
Scorer: Doeglas 69’.
Penalties: Doeglas (scored), Ridley (scored), Leota (saved), Mogridge (scored).