The game then started to open up as fatigue set in due to the heat, and chances were created at both ends.

One of the best occurred in the 61st minute when a great run and pass from Galabadaarachchi released Kerr. She chose to play in her strike partner Hill rather than take the shot herself, but Hill was denied by a superb block from Chloe Logarzo.

The deadlock was finally broken with six minutes to go when Kerr rose to head home a delightful cross from Hill.

There was still time for Sydney to try and get a point though, and they almost succeeded in the 93rd minute when Caitlin Foord found time and space in the box to shoot for goal, only to be denied by a block from Kim Carroll.

The win maintains Glory’s unbeaten run and puts them equal top with Brisbane Roar. They now face Melbourne Victory in a mouth-watering clash, whilst Sydney are just outside the top four with a bye in the next round.

After the game, both coaches made comment about the conditions, which were so hot that the referee was replaced at halftime with heat exhaustion.

Sydney’s Ante Juric said: “It’s a problem for both teams I think, but at the end of the day I just don’t know why they put it (the game) in mid-December at 3.30 in Perth, when you know it’s going to be hot”.

Perth Glory’s Bobby Despotovski was even more forthright in his comments.

“I agree (with Ante), its way too hot…..we have to do something about this. They (FFA ) are not going to do anything because of the coaches saying (anything), they are going start doing something if somebody gets hurt, so lets not come to that, let's do something before that.”