Glory soared into the top four of the Ninja A-League table after goals spectacular goals from Emma Tovar, Susan Phonsongkham and Ella Lincoln secured a deserved 3-1 win over Western Sydney Wanderers at Sam Kerr Football Centre on Friday evening.
Click HERE for match video highlights.
Click HERE for Stephen Peters’ post-match media conference.
The foundations for the victory, Glory’s fourth on the trot at home, were laid in the first half as Tovar’s curler from the edge of the box and a superb free-kick from Phonsongkham sent Stephen Peters’ side into the break two goals to the good.
Substitute Yuan Cong did give the visitors a glimmer of hope when she halved the arrears with a close-range finish 15 minutes from time, but a fine finish from Lincoln duly snuffed out any prospect of a late Wanderers fightback.
After an opening quarter big on physicality but low on goalmouth incident, the game burst into life when Glory hit the front in spectacular fashion on the half-hour mark.
Skipper Izzy Dalton managed to thread a pass along the top of the box to Tovar and she neatly slipped the ball onto her left foot before bending a pinpoint effort beyond Sham Khamis and into the far corner of the net.
That opener seemed to settle the hosts who duly doubled their lead in the shadows of half-time.
Again the finish was sublime, this time Phonsongkham effortlessly curling a free-kick around the wall and beyond the despairing dive of Khamis before being engulfed by jubilant teammates as she raced away to celebrate.
The loss of Georgia Cassidy to a hamstring injury at half-time contributed to Glory looking a little less fluent during the opening exchanges of the second half.
Western Sydney in turn began to look altogether more purposeful and the hosts were grateful to Teresa Morrissey who made several impressive saves, including a superb double effort, to keep Wanderers at bay.
Cong did eventually find a way past the home ”keeper, tapping in an Ella Buchanan cross-shot to bring the red-and-blacks briefly back into the contest, but Glory were not to be denied.
Shortly after being introduced from the bench, Lincoln cut inside at pace and as the Wanderers defence hesitated, she thumped a left-foot shot into the roof of the net before matching her spectacular finish with an equally eye-catching summersault celebration.
Match Details
Ninja A-League 2025/26 Season Round 12
Perth Glory 3 (Tovar 29′, Phonsongkham 44′, Lincoln 84′) Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (Cong 75′)
Half-time: 2-0
Sam Kerr Football Centre
Friday 9 January 2026
Referee: Rachael Mitchenson
Perth Glory: 1.Teresa MORRISSEY (gk), 3.Emma TOVAR, 5.Grace JOHNSTON, 6.Tijan MCKENNA, 8.Georgia CASSIDY (2.Mischa ANDERSON 46′), 10.Susan PHONSONGKHAM, 12.Bronte TREW (9.Gabby HOLLAR 71′), 19.Sarah O’DONOGHUE (28.Clancy WESTAWAY 76′), 23.Isobel DALTON (c) (25.Ella LINCOLN 71′), 24.Julia SARDO (27.Charli WAINWRIGHT 88′), 29.Onyinyechi ZOGG,
Substitutes not used: 30.Jessica SKINNER
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Western Sydney Wanderers: 20. Sham KHAMIS (gk), 3. Wang YING, 4. Poppie HOOKS, 6. Amy CHESSARI (8. Olivia PRICE 71′), 7. Amy HARRISON, 11. Danika MATOS, 14. Ella BUCHANAN (5. Milly BENNETT 85′), 19. Talia YOUNIS (10. Yuan CONG 60′), 25. Holly CASPERS, 37. Ena HARADA, 66. Chloe BERRYHILL (9. Kim SOEUN 71′)
Substitutes not used: 12. Brianna EDWARDS (gk), 22. Alana CERNE
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
ALW Match Wrap: Fourth straight home win sends Glory soaring into top four
