Glory were unable to play the role of party poopers at the Sam Kerr Football Centre on Friday evening as a rampant Melbourne City side ran out 5-1 winners to complete an unbeaten season and retain the Premiers’ Plate.
Click HERE for full match highlights
Click HERE for Stephen Peters’ post-match reaction
Goals from Taylor Otto and Bryleeh Henry inside the opening six minutes laid the platform for City’s victory and although Susan Phonsongkham swiftly replied for Glory from the penalty spot, Otto duly headed home her third and Holly McNamara added a fourth before the break.
Glory suffered another blow midway through the second half when midfielder Leticia McKenna curled home a long-range free-kick and City cruised through the latter stages before the final whistle sparked wild celebrations among the travelling party, both on the bench and in the stands.
It may have been a chilly night in the west, but City made a red-hot start, streaking out to a 2-0 lead while some Members and fans were still making their way into the venue.
Otto claimed the first, rising highest at the near post to meet a McNamara corner and glancing a header past Casey Dumont, before Henry got in behind the home defence and clipped in number two.
To their credit, Glory recovered quickly from their horror start and soon halved the arrears via a penalty, Onyi Zogg seeing a shot handled by Rebekah Stott after her initial header rebounded back out off the post and Phonsongkham converting from the spot.
Naomi Chinnama then went close with a header from Izzy Dalton’s corner, but City were soon back in their stride and restored their two-goal lead just short of the half-hour mark with a carbon copy of their opening goal as Otto again nodded in a McNamara corner.
And 3-1 became 4-1 five minutes before the break, McNamara rounding off a slick passing move which sliced the Glory defence open by sweeping past the advancing Dumont.
Needing an immediate response at the start of the second half to stand any chance of forcing their way back into the contest, the women in purple almost conjured one as Phonsongkham forced her way into a one-on-one situation only to be foiled by City ‘keeper Malena Miraes.
Glory continued to throw everything they had at the visitors, but were unable to find a way through and were hit by a sucker punch midway through the half as McKenna’s free-kick eluded Dumont and made it 5-1.
And although substitute Ella Lincoln came close to grabbing a late consolation for the hosts, the night ultimately belonged to Michael Matricciani’s all-conquering side.
Match Details
Ninja A-League 2024-25 Season Round 23
Perth Glory 1 (Phonsongkham (pen) 13′) Melbourne City 5 (Otto 3′, 26′, Henry 6′, McNamara 40′, McKenna 68′)
Half-time: 1-4
Sam Kerr Football Centre
Friday 18 April 2025
Referee: Bec Mackie
Attendance: 1402
Perth Glory: 1.Casey DUMONT (gk), 5.Grace JOHNSTON, 6.Tijan MCKENNA, 7.Megan WYNNE (44.Kelli BROWN 35′), 8.Georgia CASSIDY, 10.Susan PHONSONGKHAM (25.Ella LINCOLN 79′), 13.Naomi CHINNAMA, 19.Sarah O’DONOGHUE (18.Izzy FOLETTA 62′), 20.Ella ABDUL MASSIH (2.Mischa ANDERSON 62′), 23.Izzy DALTON (c), 29.Onyinyechi ZOGG
Substitutes not used: 21.Miranda TEMPLEMAN (gk)
Yellow Cards: Zogg, Chinnama
Red Cards: None
Melbourne City: 24. Malena MIERES (GK) (23. Melissa BARBIERI (GK), 84′), 5. Taylor OTTO, 6. Leticia McKENNA, 8. Alexia APOSTOLAKIS, 9. Holly McNAMARA (11. Emilia MURRAY 65′), 13. Rebekah STOTT (C) (27. Tyla-Jay VLAJNIC 74′), 14. Laura HUGHES (12. Shelby McMAHON 74′), 16. Karly ROESTBAKKEN, 18. Leah DAVIDSON, 19. Lourdes BOSCH, 22. Bryleeh HENRY (10. Rhianna POLLICINA 65′)
Substitutes not used: None
Yellow Cards: Stott
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
