Glory kept their ALW Finals hopes alive by securing a battling 2-1 win over Wellington Phoenix at the Sam Kerr Football Centre on Sunday evening.
Click HERE for full match highlights
Click HERE for Stephen Peters’ post-match media conference
Click HERE for Izzy Dalton’s post-match interview
Looking to avenge last month’s defeat at the hands of the Kiwi side, Glory took the lead through Izzy Dalton’s fine finish, only for the visitors to restore parity via Olivia Fergusson’s strike in first-half stoppage-time.
But the women in purple went again after the break and grabbed what proved to be the winner 19 minutes from the end when Megan Wynne’s right-wing cross was diverted into her own net by Phoenix defender Tiana Jaber.
The result leaves Stephen Peters’ charges nine points off the top six with seven games remaining, four of which are at home.
Both sides made their attacking intentions clear right from the off despite the hot conditions and Caitlin Doeglas and Kelli Brown each went close to giving Glory the lead inside the opening nine minutes.
Dalton then went even closer, striking the bar with a strike she managed to unleash on the slide, before Fergusson dragged a shot wide at the other when well placed.
An opening goal seemed inevitable and it duly arrived just after the half-hour mark when Sarah O’Donoghue’s persistence and strength carved out a shooting opportunity for Dalton who calmly picked out the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Phoenix maintained their own attacking threat, however, especially on the break and they were rewarded with the last kick of the first half when the dangerous Elliott beat Miranda Templeman with a deft, lofted effort.
That goal seemed to lift the visitors who began the second half on the front foot, but Glory managed to keep them at bay and came close to restoring their lead when Dalton’s corner clipped the frame of the goal.
And the hosts went one better moments later when the tireless Wynne again made inroads down the right before driving in a teasing cross which Jaber inadvertently clipped past Vilao as the onrushing Kelli Brown prepared to pounce.
Glory almost made it 3-1 immediately as Zogg became the latest player to hit the woodwork after the Phoenix defence failed to clear a Brown free-kick.
Wellington were buoyed by that let-off and applied some concerted late pressure, but with the exception of a header from Fergusson which flew narrowly wide, Glory kept them at arm’s length to lock in an absolutely vital victory.
Match Details
Ninja A-League 2024-25 Season Round 16
Perth Glory 2 (Dalton 32′, Jaber (o.g.) 71′)) Wellington Phoenix 1 (Fergusson 45+1′)
Half-time: 1-1
Sam Kerr Football Centre
Sunday 16 February 2025
Attendance: 880
Referee: Molly Godsell
Perth Glory: 21.Miranda TEMPLEMAN (gk), 5.Grace JOHNSTON 6.Tijan MCKENNA, 7.Megan WYNNE (14.Miku SUNAGA 90+4′), 11.Natalie TATHEM, 12.Caitlin DOEGLAS (20.Ella ABDUL MASSIH 64′), 13.Naomi CHINNAMA, 19.Sarah O’DONOGHUE (27.Charli WAINWRIGHT 72′), 23.Izzy DALTON (co-c), 29.Onyinyechi ZOGG (co-c), 44.Kelli BROWN (17.Morgan ROBERTS 90+4′)
Substitutes not used: 30.Jess SKINNER (gk)
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Wellington Phoenix: 39. Carolina VILÃO (gk), 3. Tiana JABER (17. Ela JEREZ 79′), 4. Mackenzie BARRY, 5. Alivia KELLY, 6. Maya MCCUTCHEON, 7. Grace JALE, 9. Olivia FERGUSSON, 11. Manaia ELLIOTT (20. Emma MAIN 66′), 14. Mebae TANAKA, 15. Daisy BRAZENDALE (2. Zoe MCMEEKEN 66′), 16. Annalie LONGO (c), 21. Lara WALL
Substitutes not used: 8. Amelia ABBOTT, 13. Brooke NEARY (gk)
Yellow Cards: Fergusson
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
