W-League: Glory romps into first Grand Final

Perth Glory will host Canberra United in next Sunday’s Westfield W-League decider after a dominant 3-0 win over Sydney FC in today’s semi-final at nib Stadium.

Retiring veteran Elisa D’Ovidio and Golden Boot winner Kate Gill scored first half goals before substitute Gabe Marzano netted her first W-League goal to secure a historic first grand final berth for Perth.

Glory won the league by a whopping 10 points, scoring more goals than any other team in the competition’s short history in what was a record-breaking season for a team which had qualified for the finals just once before.

Jamie Harnwell’s side was rarely troubled in the warm Perth heat and will head into next Sunday’s grand final as clear favourites to claim a maiden W-League championship on home turf.

“I’m really proud of the way the players played today, it’s not easy playing at midday in Perth in the summer but the energy and the ability in the first half, the goals, were top draw so I’m really pleased,” Harnwell said.

“I don’t think Sydney have experienced (these conditions) for a few weeks and we train in it day-in, day out. We liked to play a high tempo game and weather like this makes it difficult for the opposition.

“I know a lot of these players have seen some pretty lean times so it’s great reward for them. I know what it’s like to win a grand final and I just hope these girls get to experience that next week as well.”

D’Ovidio, who announced her intention to retire at the end of the season during the week, was named to start for Glory in the absence of injured attacker Sam Kerr and put the home side ahead after just 10 minutes.

Caitlin Foord and Marianna Tabain broken open the Sydney defence with some clever runs, allowing Gill to find space on the right before sending the ball to D’Ovidio on the left and the 25-year-old finished with a powerful strike across her body into the bottom right corner of the net.

Gill doubled Glory’s lead eight minutes before half-time with a superbly timed lob shot from 22 yards over the head of a hapless Sydney goalkeeper Casey Dumont to take her individual season tally to 13 goals.

The Sky Blues had several chances in the first half to pull one back but in-form goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold snuffed out every challenge that came her way, including a brilliant smother to deny a certain goal to Amy Harrison.

Glory defenders Shelina Zadorsky and Bronwyn Studman combined to nullify the influence of Sydney’s US import Jasmyne Spencer while reliable Perth captain Collette McCallum once again controlled the midfield.

Foord caused her former side several headaches with her blistering pace down the wings, combined effectively with teammates D’Ovidio and Shannon May to offer unsuccessful chances to Gill and Tabain.

Dumont pulled off a spectacular leaping save to prevent what would have been one of the goals of the season to Studman who attempted an ambitious overhead kick from close range after a corner.

Marzano, who was edged out by D’Ovidio for a starting spot, replaced the goal scorer on the hour mark and added her name to the scoresheet 10 minutes later after a defensive blunder from the visitors.

Dumont attempted to clear the ball from her box but kicked it too hard at Renee Rollason and it deflected into the path of Gill who turned and pass to Marzano and the substitute made the most of an open goal mouth.

Harrison and Natalie Tobin had late chances to score a consolation goal for the Sky Blues after Arnold left her goals wide open but neither player was able to take advantage of the lapse.

Sydney coach Daniel Barrett rued the high number of his missed opportunities by his side.

“I thought we created enough chances to have goals and they were at crucial times when they could have changed the game, but it just wasn’t going in today,” Barrett said.

“That was disappointing that we couldn’t convert our chances because I think it would have change the game for us.

“Our plan today was to take it to Perth, we felt no one had done that yet but they were too good and they’ve been good all year. They deserve to take out the competition.”

Perth Glory 3 (D’Ovidio 10’, Gill 37’, Marzano 70’) defeated Sydney FC 0

Perth Glory: 1. Mackenzie ARNOLD (GK), 2. Sarah CARROLL, 4. Bronwyn STUDMAN, 5. Shannon MAY, 6. Alanna KENNEDY, 9. Caitlin FOORD, 12. Kate GILL, 13. Elisa D’OVIDIO, 14. Collette MCCALLUM, 15. Shelina ZADORSKY, 17. Marianna TABAIN.

Subs: 3. Carys HAWKINS, 7. Gabrielle MARZANO, 8. Shawn BILLAM, 16. Thia EASTMAN, 18. Gabrielle DAL BUSCO (GK)

Sydney FC: 1. Casey DUMONT (GK), 2. Teresa POLIAS, 5. Jasmyne SPENCER, 6. Servet UZUNLAR, 7. Nicola BOLGER, 8. Amy HARRISON, 10. Renee ROLLASON, 12. Chloe LOGARZO, 15. Teigen ALLEN, 16. Samantha JOHNSON, 17. Kyah SIMON.

Subs: 3. Liz RALSTON, 11. Natalie TOBIN, 13. Trudy CAMILLERI, 14. Olivia PRICE, 21. Sian MCLAREN (GK)