Perth Glory 2-1 Adelaide United
Photos by Rob Lizzi at Macedonia Park for Impetus. Report by Ryan Miller-Woods.
Above: Perth Glory celebrate their win over Adelaide United that keeps them top of the A-League Women. Photo: Rob Lizzi for Impetus.
Perth Glory continued their perfect start to the A-League Women’s season after coming from behind with a 2-1 victory against Adelaide United at Macedonia Park thanks to goals from Grace Jale and Susan Phonsongkham.
Perth came close to opening the scoring in the fifth minute via a through ball from Hana Lowry to Grace Jale, but the Football Fern couldn’t quite capitalise on.
Early in the match, while Adelaide had more possession, the hosts looked more dangerous as they imposed the style of pressing and game management that have been so successful this season. Their floating through balls that continually found players such as Jale in attack were particularly successful.
With eight minutes to go, they came close once more when Lowry’s effort produced an excellent save from Annalee Grove in the Adelaide goal.
Adelaide finished the opening period strongly though, and Morgan Aquino had to be on top form to keep the South Australians out. However, with two minutes of the half remaining, they hit the front.
From an Adelaide corner, the ball found Ella Tonkin where her cross found Dylan Holmes in the box who slotted her first goal of the season into the bottom left corner. Coincidentally, Holmes’ last goal was also against Perth at the same venue.
Whilst the Reds went in ahead at the break, the Glory are made of stern stuff this season, and it took just six minutes of the second period for the Western Australians to level.
Another piece of magic from Lowry found Phonsongkham to provide a cross to Jale at the near post to convert with a first-time shot that just squeezed past Grove. The former Wellington Phoenix and Canberra United player has now hit three goals in four games this season.
As the second half progressed, Adelaide edged the possession count, but could not make it pay. They would pay for that as the clock ticked on thanks to a piece of magic from another of Perth’s in-form attackers.
In the 86th minute, Phonsongkham made a beautiful run down the line and cut into the box where she beat both Jenna Holtz and Holmes before shooting past Grove to put the leaders in front.
A special moment came in the 88th minute as Tia Stonehill made her home debut for Perth, replacing Phonsongkham. Stonehill has a history as a major player in the Western Australian game, and, having overcome a major injury in 2022 when playing for Murdoch University Melville in the NPLW WA which left her having to learn to walk again. Pulling on an A-League Women shirt for the first time last week was a major moment. Doing it for a home game yesterday was the culmination of an inspirational story.
Perth Glory once again showed their determination, a strong team spirit, and the ability of their dangerous attack to win their fourth match of four this season. Conversely, Adelaide are still looking for their first win, and are one place off the bottom of the ladder.
Teams: PERTH GLORY (3-5-2): Aquino, Cowart, Anton, Mihocic, Rigby, Sakalis, Cassidy, Lowry, Farrow, Phonsongkham, Jale. Substitutes: James, Stonehill, Quezada, Dalton, Johnston.
Scorers: Jale 51’, Phonsongkham 86’.
ADELAIDE UNITED (4-4-2): Grove, E. Hodgson, Waldus, Tonkin, Tolland, Morgan, Holmes, Sasaki, Blake, Jancevski, Lee. Substitutes: Wilson, Haffenden, I. Hodgson, Holtz, Taylor.
Scorers: Holmes 43’.
Referee: Georgia Ghirardello.
Attendance: TBC.
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