A late own-goal proved enough to send Glory level on level points with sixth-placed Melbourne Victory as they downed old rivals Canberra United 1-0 at Sam Kerr Football Centre on Saturday evening.
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A game of few chances looked to be heading for a goalless stalemate until nine minutes from time when Susan Phonsongkham’s corner was inadvertently diverted into the net via the underside of the crossbar by the luckless Hayley Taylor-Young.
The result brought to an end a winless run of four games for Stephen Peters’ side and kept their push for Finals football very much on track ahead of back-to-back away games against Newcastle and Adelaide.
Peters had predicted earlier in the week that the game would be something of an arm-wrestle and that was certainly the case in the first half which was almost entirely devoid of clear cut chances.
Both goalkeepers made just the one save before the break, Glory’s Teresa Morrissey comfortably fielding a Beth Gordon free-kick and Canberra’s Sally James keeping out a low, curling effort from Rola Badawiya.
The game did start to open up as the second half wore on and both sides created a decent opportunity either side of the hour-mark, Gordon volleying over for the visitors when well placed and Susan Phonsongkham drawing a fine, one-handed save from James after meeting a pinpoint Sarah O’Donoghue cross.
Phonsongkham went close again as the game moved into its final ten minutes, James tipping her shot around the post after excellent approach work from Grace Johnston and it was from the resulting corner that Glory bagged their winner.
The delivery from Phonsongkham was dangerous, the Canberra defence was slow to react and when they did, Taylor-Young contrived to slice the ball up against the bar and over the line.
The visitors did pile on the pressure late, but with the outstanding Tijan McKenna to the fore, Glory held firm to record their first victory in this fixture since December 2022 and give their top-six aspirations a huge boost in the process.
Match Details
Ninja A-League 2025/26 Season Round 17
Perth Glory 1 (Taylor-Young (o.g.) 81′) Canberra United 0
Half-time: 0-0
Sam Kerr Football Centre
Saturday 14 February 2026
Referee: Isabella Mossin
Attendance: 849
Perth Glory: 1.Teresa MORRISSEY (gk), 3.Emma TOVAR, 5.Grace JOHNSTON, 6.Tijan MCKENNA, 10.Susan PHONSONGKHAM (2.Mischa ANDERSON 90+1′), 17.Rola BADAWIYA (12.Bronte TREW 70′), 23.Isobel DALTON (c), 24.Julia SARDO (11.Natalie TATHEM 46′), 25.Ella LINCOLN (19.Sarah O’DONOGHUE 46′), 27.Charli WAINWRIGHT (8.Georgia CASSIDY 77′), 29.Onyinyechi ZOGG
Substitutes not used: 30.Jessica SKINNER (gk)
Yellow Cards: Badawiya, O’Donoghue
Red Cards: None
Canberra United: 1. Sally JAMES (gk), 3. Liz ANTON, 5. Jazmin WARDLOW (10. Mary STANIC-FLOODY 83′), 6. Josie AULICINO (25. Darcey MALONE 83′), 7. Emma HAWKINS (19. Sienna DALE 74′), 8. Sasha GROVE (13. Sofia CHRISTOPHERSON 61′), 12. Hayley TAYLOR-YOUNG, 23. Michelle HEYMAN (c), 32. Bethany GORDON, 33. Nanako SASAKI (11. Emma ROBERS 74′)
Substitutes not used: 18. Coco MAJSTOROVIC (gk)
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
ALW Match Wrap: Gritty Glory grind out vital victory over Canberra
