Glory surged into the thick of the ALW Finals race as Izzy Foletta’s stoppage-time goal sealed a battling 1-0 win over Western Sydney Wanderers at the Sam Kerr Football Centre on Saturday evening.
Click HERE for full match highlights
Click HERE for Izzy Folett’a post-match interview
Click HERE for Stephen Peters’ post-match media conference
Desperately needing three points to maintain their late charge for a top-six berth, the women in purple looked set to be frustrated as the game developed into a midfield arm-wrestle, with Wanderers’ strong performance belying their lowly league position.
But as the clock ticked past the 90-minute-mark, Kelli Brown’s corner was only half-cleared, the ball fell for substitute Foletta just inside the box and she drilled a low shot through a crowd of bodies into the bottom corner.
The defender’s second career goal for her hometown club could hardly have been more significant as the win moved Stephen Peters’ side to within three points of the top six with three games of the regular season left to play.
The first half was a compelling contest even if clear-cut chances were at something of a premium.
Glory were forced to try and play their way through an energetic Western Sydney press and managed to do so for the first time ten minutes in when Natalie Tathem saw her shot parried by Sham Khamis.
Wanderers responded with a volley from leading scorer Sienna Saveska which flew narrowly over the bar and there was to be only one more goalmouth incident before the break when Glory’s Grace Johnston’s cross was not cleared and Khamis was eventually forced to rush out and smother an effort from Sarah O’Donoghue.
The second half began in a similarly cagey manner, but as it wore on, it was the home side who began to gain the ascendancy.
Kelli Brown went close with two chances just short of the hour-mark, drawing a sharp stop from Khamis with her first and sending her second narrowly wide of the target.
The introduction of Charli Wainwright from the bench also helped keep Glory on the front foot as she sparkled in midfield and with time running out, the hosts finally earned their reward.
For once, the Wanderers were unable to clear their lines, the ball dropped for Foletta and without breaking stride, she fizzed a shot past Khamis to send the home fans into raptures and a clear message out to the rest of the ALW that Glory’s Finals challenge is well and truly on.
Match Details
Ninja A-League 2024-25 Season Round 20
Perth Glory 1 (Foletta 90+1′) Western Sydney Wanderers 0
Half-time: 0-0
Sam Kerr Football Centre
Saturday 22 March 2025
Referee: Bec Mackie
Attendance: 996
Perth Glory: 1.Casey DUMONT (gk), 5.Grace JOHNSTON (18.Izzy FOLETTA 86′), 6.Tijan MCKENNA, 7.Megan WYNNE, 8.Georgia CASSIDY (10.Susan PHONSONGKHAM 61′), 11.Natalie TATHEM (25.Ella LINCOLN 78′), 13.Naomi CHINNAMA, 19.Sarah O’DONOGHUE (27.Charli WAINWRIGHT 61′), 23.Izzy DALTON (c), 29.Onyinyechi ZOGG, 44.Kelli BROWN
Substitutes not used: 21.Miranda TEMPLEMAN (gk)
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Western Sydney Wanderers: 20. Sham KHAMIS,(gk), 4.Madison MCCOMASKY, 6. Amy CHESSARI, 7. Amy HARRISON (C), 8. Olivia PRICE, 10. Sienna SAVESKA (9. Sophie HARDING 85′), 11. Danika MATOS, 12. Bronte TREW (25.Holly CASPERS 73′), 14. Ella BUCHANAN, 15. Cushla RUE (13. Talia KAPETANELLIS 81′), 19. Talia YOUNIS
Substitutes not used: 5. Milly BENNETT, 31. Keely SEGAVCIC (gk)
Yellow Cards: Trew
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
