Glory overcome odds for fighting win

Danish international Mie Leth Jans scored the crucial winner as Perth Glory battled to a controversial, gutsy victory over Adelaide United to give their A-League finals chances a huge boost.

They took three crucial points despite being reduced to 10 players for more than 30 minutes after striker Susan Phonsongkham was sent off for two yellow cards.

It was Glory’s best fighting defensive effort of the season and blew open the finals race, putting them equal fifth behind Adelaide and Melbourne Victory on goal difference.

The game was not without controversy, both teams baffled when Fiona Worts looked to have rubbed out Leth Jans’ six-minute header from a corner only to see it called offside.

Leth Jans did not even know Glory had gone into the break with the lead.

But that should not distract from the win for a side that has been stranded in Sydney since New Years Eve.

Coach Alex Epakis hailed an “inspired” performance.

“We needed an inspired performance. They went above and beyond that,” Epakis said.

“You can’t explain what we’ve had to go through and to get that result, words can’t put it into justice.

‘We’re doing it away from home, we’ve got no family, we’ve got no friends, we’ve got no support. This is just us.

“It wasn’t always pretty but it was resilient, it was pure determination. It speaks volumes of where the group is at.

“Everyone did more than what was required but it’s hard to go past the spine.

“The leaders put their hands up and showed absolute value”