ALM Match Wrap: Glory fall to defeat against Wellington

Glory’s hopes of launching a late-season push for the Finals were dealt a blow on Saturday as they were downed 2-0 by Wellington Phoenix at Hnry Stadium.

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Click HERE for Scott Wootton’s post-match interview.

A win would have lifted Adam Griffiths’ side to within one point of the top six ahead of the weekend’s remaining games, but instead Corban Piper’s header and an own-goal from the luckless Nicholas Pennington secured the spoils for the hosts.

After a scoreless first half, Piper nodded home a Ramy Najjarine corner ten minutes into the second and the ‘Nix secured their first win in eight games when a cross from substitute Matthew Sheridan struck Pennington’s shoulder and neither Matt Sutton nor Charbel Shamoon were able to prevent the ball from squirming into the net.

On a sunny afternoon in the New Zealand capital, the first half was largely dominated by the hosts in terms of possession and territory, with Glory defending deep and looking to strike on the counter-attack.

Neither side managed an effort on target before the break, but it was Phoenix who created the better of the chances.

The best of those came just five minutes in when the lively Ifeanyi Eze forced a turnover down the right before Piper nudged the ball on to Kazuki Nagasawa, but from 12m out and with the goal gaping, the Japanese midfielder sliced his shot wide.

Eze then had a strong penalty appeal waved away by referee Nathan Shakespear after his attempted cross appeared to strike the arm of Scott Wootton and the Nigerian forward was also involved in the final incident of a largely low-key first half when he fired narrowly over the bar from 25m out.

Glory began the second half brightly as Brian Kaltak drew a save from Josh Oluwayemi after rising highest to meet a Luca Tevere corner, but that would be as good as it got for the visitors.

Eight minutes later, Najjarine’s corner reached Piper who headed powerfully past Sutton and the men in purple struggled to muster a response in the final half-hour.

Sutton was forced to make agile saves from both Eze and Najjarine and substitute Lukas Kelly-Heald headed wastefully wide at the back post, but the hosts finally made their pressure count for a second time six minutes from the end.

Sheridan pumped in a deep cross from the right, the ball struck Pennington as he backpedalled and to the despair of the onlooking Glory defenders, it found its way into the net.

Match Details

Isuzu UTE A-League 2025/26 Season Round 21

Wellington Phoenix 2 (Piper 55′, Pennington (o.g.) 84′) Perth Glory 0

Half-time: 0-0

Hnry Stadium

Saturday 14 March 2026

Referee: Nathan Shakespear

Wellington Phoenix: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 3. Corban PIPER, 6. Tim PAYNE (27. Matt SHERIDAN 65′), 7. Ifeanyi EZE (29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH 89′), 8. Paulo RETRE, 12. Dan EDWARDS (18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 65′), 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 20. Ramy NAJJARINE, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA (16. Sander KARTUM 89′), 28. Bill TUILOMA (4. Manjrekar JAMES 78′)

Substitutes not used: 11. Carlo ARMIENTO, 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk)

Yellow Cards: None

Red Cards: None

Perth Glory: 29.Matt SUTTON (gk), 2.Charbel SHAMOON, 3.Sam SUTTON, 4.Scott WOOTTON (c), 7.Nicholas PENNINGTON, 8.Callum TIMMINS (39.Giovanni DE ABREU 46′), 9.Jaiden KUCHARSKI (17.Arion SULEMANI 60′), 18.Luca TEVERE, 27.Will FRENEY (23.Anthony DIDULICA 70′), 45.Brian KALTAK, 67.Stefan COLAKOVSKI (20.Trent OSTLER 70′)

Substitutes not used: 19.Josh RISDON, 24.Andriano LEBIB, 40.Ryan WARNER (gk)

Yellow Cards: Kucharski

Red Cards: None

#ONEGlory