ALW Match Wrap: Glory remain in Finals frame despite defeat against in-form Reds

Rola Badawiya’s fourth goal of the season proved in vain as Glory succumbed to a 2-1 defeat against in-form Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium on Friday evening.

Click HERE for match highlights.

Click HERE for Grace Johnston’s post-match interview.

The American striker put her side in front after only 11 minutes, with Emma Tovar claiming the assist, but Fiona Worts fired the Reds level later in the first half and Sarah Morgan grabbed what proved to be the winner direct from a corner early in the second.

A tough night for Glory in the South Australian capital was compounded late on when Onyi Zogg saw red for a professional foul on Lara Gooch and substitute Megan Wynne, making her first appearance after 11 months out with an ACL injury, then missed a great chance to make it 2-2 in stoppage-time.

The result leaves Stephen Peters’ side still occupying fifth place ahead of the remaining Round 19 games, while Adelaide’s eighth win in their last ten outings moves them to within one point of leaders Melbourne City.

An action-packed first half eventually yielded a total of 15 shots and two of those arrived inside the opening 90 seconds as Teresa Morrissey foiled Worts at close-range and then Badawiya shot into the side-netting from a tight angle.

Badawiya continued to be a thorn in Adelaide’s side during the early exchanges, drawing a fine, sprawling save from Ilona Melegh before opening the scoring two minutes later.

Tovar was the architect, bisecting the home defence with a sublime through-ball for Badawiya who raced in behind and finished emphatically into the roof of the net.

United’s Adriana Taranto had looked dangerous right from the start, however and it was the former Western United winger who provided the cross for her side’s equaliser just after the half-hour, Worts forcing the loose ball home after Emily Hodgson’s initial effort had been blocked by Morrissey.

The action in a breathless first half duly continued right into stoppage-time as Tovar’s lobbed effort was clawed away by the alert Melegh.

Both sides continued to show plenty of attacking intent when play resumed and moments after Izzy Dalton had sent a half-volley into the side-netting for the visitors, Morgan grabbed the third goal of the game for the hosts.

The Glory players were adamant that Morrissey had been impeded by Erin Healy as she attempted to prevent Morgan’s corner from flashing into the far corner, but their protests were waved away by referee Mikayla Ryan and the goal stood.

A brief lull followed in terms of chances and yet there was no let-up in the drama as Zogg received her marching orders for hauling down Gooch when the Adelaide substitute seemed poised to get a clear run in on goal.

By that time Wynne had been introduced from the bench and she could have marked her welcome return to action with a vital goal three minutes into stoppage-time.

The industrious Dalton got away down the left and picked out the Welsh international unmarked in front of goal, but she sent her shot straight at a relieved Melegh.

Match Details

Ninja A-League 2025/26 Season Round 19

Adelaide United 2 (Worts 31′, Morgan 56′) Perth Glory 1 (Badawiya 11′)

Half-time: 1-1

Coopers Stadium

Friday 13 March 2026

Referee: Mikayla Ryan

Adelaide United: 30.Ilona MELEGH (gk), 2.Emily HODGSON, 3.Matilda MCNAMARA, 5.Sarah MORGAN, 6.Melissa TARANTO (9.Paige ZOIS 63′), 8.Emily CONDON (10.Chelsie DAWBER 63′), 13.Ella TONKIN, 15.Adriana TARANTO (7.Emilia MAKRIS 72′) (16.Dylan HOLMES 78′), 17.Zoe TOLLAND, 22.Erin HEALY (25.Lara GOOCH 72′), 23.Fiona WORTS

Substitutes not used: 21.Claudia JENKINS (gk)

Yellow Cards: None

Red Cards: None

Perth Glory: 1.Teresa MORRISSEY (gk), 3.Emma TOVAR, 5.Grace JOHNSTON, 6.Tijan MCKENNA, 9.Gabby HOLLAR (7.Megan WYNNE 67′), 11.Natalie TATHEM (2.Mischa ANDERSON 59′), 17.Rola BADAWIYA (28.Clancy WESTAWAY 87′), 23.Isobel DALTON (c), 25.Ella LINCOLN (8.Georgia CASSIDY 60′), 27.Charli WAINWRIGHT (19.Sarah O’DONOGHUE 67′), 29.Onyinyechi ZOGG

Substitutes not used: 30.Jessica SKINNER (gk)

Yellow Cards: None

Red Cards: Zogg

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