Sydney FC 1-0 Perth Glory
by Ben Gilby (12/4/25)
Above: Sydney FC’s Mackenzie Hawkesby (left) battles with Perth Glory’s Georgia Cassidy today. Photo: Sydney FC.
Princess Ibini’s stunning goal in second-half stoppage time ensured that Sydney FC got the win that they needed to keep hopes alive of maintaining their incredible record of making Finals football in every season of the competition’s history.
It was a choker for Perth to take, as the visitors believed vehemently that the attacker should have been sent off for a studs-first challenge on captain Izzy Dalton midway through the second half.
However, it was not to be for Stephen Peters’ side against a Sydney FC outfit who somehow always find a way to do what they need to in order to win vital games such as this one.
There were but three opportunities on goal in an arm-wrestle of an opening half. The first of which went the hosts’ way with six minutes played.
Indiana dos Santos clipped in a corner from the right that Tori Tumeth pushed forward with a side-footed volley that bounced and rolled goalwards before Sarah O’Donoghue swept it away from danger at the back post.
Three minutes later, dos Santos was influential again for Sydney as she gained possession from a Glory error in trying to play out on the left and lifted the ball through for Mackenzie Hawkesby to slam in a shot from the edge of the box that Miranda Templeman pushed away brilliantly.
Just under nine minutes before the break, the visitors had a sight of goal themselves. Susan Phonsongkham showed great strength and superb footwork to advance up the left flank and hold off Tumeth to advance. In the battle, the Perth star went down as O’Donoghue simultaneously swept a shot into the side netting.
Perth upped the ante at the start of the second half as Phonsongkham continued to stamp her class on proceedings. Her cross came in for Ella Abdul-Massih, who appeared to brought down by Tumeth as she tried to reach the ball, but referee Sarah Jones was non-plussed.
Sydney had a chance of their own with just under 20 minutes remaining. Ibini held off a challenge on the left-hand edge of the box to lay off the ball for former Glory striker Millie Farrow, who gained instant control, beat two defenders, and laid off for Shea Connors to hit a shot from around 15 yards from the right of centre that Templeman pushed over the top.
Phonsongkham remained a dangerous outlet, and with five minutes of normal time remaining, conjured up a glorious chance for the Western Australian side to win it.
Megan Wynne took the ball up the right and fed O’Donoghue to take up possession with her back to goal. A quick turn and immediate pass found Phonsongkham, who danced past Tumeth brilliantly and drove in a low shot from the edge of the box that Jasmine Black saved well with her feet before instantly gathering.
Then, 44 seconds into stoppage time at the end of the game came the decisive moment. Dos Santos’ cross in from the right was too high for Grace Johnston to reach and fell for Ibini, who took a touch and curled a stunning strike into the far right-hand corner.
A dramatic conclusion to a vital match – one that both sides will feel they had chances to have won.
Matters, though in the Finals race are out of Sydney’s hands. They need to win their final game away to third-placed Adelaide United and have to hope that both Wellington Phoenix and Western Sydney Wanderers can do them a favour against Canberra United tomorrow and next Saturday respectively, to give them a 17th successive place in the Finals.
Head over to our Instagram page – @ImpetusFootball to view two exclusive set of images from the game courtesy of Impetus’ Kris Goman and Ryan Miller-Woods.
Teams: SYDNEY FC (4-3-3): Black, Tumeth, Tobin, Thompson, Lemon, dos Santos, Bryson, Johnson, Tallon-Henniker, Hawkesby, Caspers. Substitutes: Farrow, Connors, Ibini, Mason-Jones, Sullivan.
Scorer: Ibini 90+1′.
PERTH GLORY (4-3-3): Templeman, Johnston, Zogg, Chinnama, McKenna, Wainwright, Dalton, Cassidy, Wynne, O’Donoghue, Phonsongkham. Substitutes: Abdul-Massih, Anderson, Skinner, Brooking, Lincoln.
Referee: Sarah Jones.
Attendance: 2,481.
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