Perth Glory will spend Christmas inside the Ninja A-League top six after a first-half effort from Rola Badawiya secured a battling 1-0 win over Adelaide United at Sam Kerr Football Centre on Sunday afternoon.
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Click HERE for Stephen Peters’ post-match media conference.
Just as they did against Wellington Phoenix last week, Glory stood firm to resist periods of concerted pressure, especially in the first half, with Tijan McKenna and Julia Sardo producing outstanding performances in unfamiliar roles at centre-back and left-back respectively.
And when their chance arrived, the women in purple took it, with Badawiya poking in her third goal of the season from close-range after the Adelaide defence had failed to clear their lines.
Despite playing into a stiff breeze, it was Adelaide who looked the more purposeful for the opening half-hour, at least in terms of their approach play and Glory were forced to dig deep to keep them at bay.
Adriana Taranto came close to giving the Reds an early lead with a powerful drive that flew just wide of the far post, while Erin Healy caused a string of anxious moments for the home defence as she continually made inroads down the left.
But Glory were still managing to pose a threat themselves on the counter and managed to make the breakthrough six minutes before half-time.
Pushing forward down the right, Sardo delivered a fine cross to the far post and when the Adelaide defence failed to clear their lines, Badawiya pounced to slam home the loose ball.
There was still time left before the break for Healy to race in on goal, but Teresa Morrissey was out smartly to make a vital save with her legs.
Glory enjoyed considerably more possession and territory after the break and could have grabbed a second goal had Bronte Trew not opted to shoot instead of slipping the ball inside to the unmarked Badawiya.
Although Healy and Taranto responded with half-chances for the visitors, Morrissey was largely untroubled and the best chance of the second half actually came at the other end when substitute Susan Phonsongkham cut in from the right and curled a left-footed effort narrowly wide of the far post.
And while the Reds continued to push right to the end, Glory were not to be denied securing back-to-back wins for the first time in more than two years.
Match Details
Ninja A-League 2025-26 Season Round 8
Perth Glory 1 (Badawiya 39′) Adelaide United 0
Half-time: 1-0
Sam Kerr Football Centre
Sunday 21 December 2025
Attendance: 825
Referee: Sophie Allum
Perth Glory: 1.Teresa MORRISSEY (gk), 2.Mischa ANDERSON, 5.Grace JOHNSTON, 6.Tijan MCKENNA, 8.Georgia CASSIDY (27.Charli WAINWRIGHT 78′), 9.Gabby HOLLAR (25.Ella LINCOLN 71′), 12.Bronte TREW (10.Susan PHONSONGKHAM 58′), 17.Rola BADAWIYA, 23.Isobel DALTON (c) (3.Emma TOVAR 58′), 24.Julia SARDO, 28.Clancy WESTAWAY (19.Sarah O’DONOGHUE 71′), 29.Onyinyechi ZOGG
Substitutes not used: 30.Jessica SKINNER (gk)
Yellow Cards: Sardo, O’Donoghue
Red Cards: None
Adelaide United: 21.Claudia JENKINS (gk), 2.Emily HODGSON, 3.Matilda MCNAMARA, 6.Melissa TARANTO (25.Lara GOOCH 67′), 8.Emily CONDON (19.Katie BOWLER 74′), 9.Paige ZOIS, 10.Chelsie DAWBER, 13.Ella TONKIN, 15.Adriana TARANTO, 17.Zoe TOLLAND, 22.Erin HEALY
Substitutes not used: 4.Holly MURRAY, 12.Carina ROSSI, 27.Sian DEWEY, 30.Ilona MELEGH (gk)
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
ALW Match Wrap: Gritty Glory go back-to-back to surge into top six
