Two goals from the Ninja A-League’s leading scorer Holly McNamara brought Glory’s four-match winning streak at Sam Kerr Football Centre to an end as Melbourne City secured a 2-0 victory on Saturday evening.
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The Matildas forward, who also scored a hat-trick against Glory when the sides met a little over a month ago, struck midway through each half as City firmed up their position at the top of the table.
And although Onyi Zogg did strike the crossbar with a deflected shot late on, the home side rarely looked likely to claim a win which would have propelled them to second place on the ladder.
On a mild afternoon in the West, the opening exchanges were very light on in terms of goalmouth incident, the only exception being a long-range free-kick from Glory’s Susan Phonsongkham which was comfortably held by Malena Mieres.
But McNamara has displayed her ability to conjure goals out of nothing all season and did so again 20 minutes in, latching on to hopeful punt in the box and beating Teresa Morrissey with a clever, lobbed finish.
Having lost Tijan McKenna to a glute injury earlier in the half, Glory were unable to really impose themselves before the break as the game turned into something of a midfield arm-wrestle.
And the only other chance of note in the opening period was a fierce strike from City’s Deven Jackson which fizzed its way narrowly over the bar.
Glory continued to battle away as the second half wore on, but with the exception of an effort from Sarah O’Donoghue which was saved by Mieres on the hour-mark, struggled to unlock a well-drilled City defence.
The visitors, in contrast, retained a threat throughout and doubled their lead in the 72nd minute via a rapid breakaway which was led by Bryleeh Henry and finished clinically by McNamara.
Glory almost found a way back into the contest moments later as Zogg’s effort struck the woodwork, but that scare aside, the reigning Premiers negotiated the final quarter with relative ease.
The women in purple return to action at Sam Kerr Football Centre on Wednesday (28th January) when Sydney FC will provide the opposition (kick-off at 7pm).
Match Details
Ninja A-League 2025/26 Season Round 14
Perth Glory 0 Melbourne City 2 (McNamara 20′, 72′)
Half-time: 0-1
Sam Kerr Football Centre
Saturday 24 January 2026
Referee: Georgia Ghirardello
Attendance: 856
Perth Glory: 1.Teresa MORRISSEY (gk), 3.Emma TOVAR (28.Clancy WESTAWAY 82′), 5.Grace JOHNSTON, 6.Tijan MCKENNA (2.Mischa ANDERSON 15′), 10.Susan PHONSONGKHAM, 12.Bronte TREW (25.Ella LINCOLN 62′), 19.Sarah O’DONOGHUE, 23.Isobel DALTON (c) (17.Rola BADAWIYA 62′), 24.Julia SARDO, 27.Charli WAINWRIGHT (4.Daisy MCALLISTER 82′), 29.Onyinyechi ZOGG
Substitutes not used: 30.Jessica SKINNER (gk)
Yellow Cards: Anderson, Phonsongkham, McAllister
Red Cards: None
Melbourne City: 24. Malena MIERES (GK), 3. Danielle TURNER, 5. Taylor OTTO, 6. Leticia MCKENNA, 8. Alexia APOSTOLAKIS (12. Shelby McMAHON 62′), 9. Holly MCNAMARA (2. Ellie WILSON 83′), 11. Deven JACKSON, 13. Rebekah STOTT (C), 16. Karly ROESTBAKKEN, 21. Aideen KEANE, 22. Bryleeh HENRY (17. Kaya JUGOVIC 90+5′)
Substitutes not used: 10. Izabella RAKO, 19. Keira SARRIS, 23. Melissa BARBIERI (GK),
Yellow Cards: Apostolakis
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
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