Perth Glory 3-1 Western Sydney Wanderers
by Isabelle Campbell (9/1/26)
Above: Emma Tovar celebrates after scoring the first of Perth’s three goals tonight against the Western Sydney Wanderers. Photo: via A-Leagues.
Perth Glory defeated Western Sydney Wanderers 3-1 at the Sam Kerr Football Centre, extending their home winning streak to four matches and leaving Wanderers winless for a seventh consecutive game. Emma Tovar and Susan Phonsongkham set up the win with goals in the first half, before Ella Lincoln added to the haul in the second.
The Glory started the match as the more confident side, controlling possession and pressing the Wanderers high up the pitch, shutting down their opponents with relative ease. The opening exchanges saw a few halfhearted attempts at goal from both sides, but neither keeper was seriously tested in the early stages.
The breakthrough finally came in the 29th minute though when Tovar picked up the ball just outside the box and curled a precise left-footed strike past Sham Khamis, claiming her first goal in Glory colours.
The Wanderers had a brief response through captain Amy Harrison, who fired a shot on goal, but it was comfortably saved by Glory keeper Teresa Morrissey, keeping the visitors at bay.
As the half drew to a close, Glory earned a free kick in a dangerous position just outside the box. Phonsongkham stepped up and delivered with perfect accuracy, sending the ball into the top left corner to double the lead and give the home side a strong advantage going into the break.
When the halftime whistle blew, the Glory were in full control and eager to continue with the same momentum, while the Wanderers faced a difficult task in the second half to claw their way back into the match.
After an anything but smooth ball delivery from a robot named Darren, the second half was underway. Much like the opening half, the early stages were low on action, with both teams struggling to create clear cut chances.
The Wanderers threatened first when Yuan Cong had a solid attempt to close the gap, but Teresa Morrissey was alert and kept up her side’s clean sheet. However, redemption came shortly after for the visitors when Ella Buchanan delivered a precise cross that perfectly found Yuan’s feet, allowing her to slip the ball past Morrissey and make it 2-1. With this goal coming with 25 minutes still to play, there was hope for a Wanderers comeback.
Their comeback hopes were short-lived, however, as Lincoln unleashed a beautiful strike that found the back of the net. In a moment of pure poetry and déjà vu for Glory fans, Lincoln followed up her goal with a backflip celebration at the very appropriately named Sam Kerr Football Centre.
Despite a desperate late push from the Wanderers, they were unable to find another goal, and the match ended 3-1 in favour of the home side.
Check out our Instagram reels and stories for post match interviews and scenes from around the ground by Max Parris and Ella McShane – go to @impetusfootball on Instagram
Teams: PERTH GLORY (4-3-3): Morrissey, Sardo, McKenna, Zogg, Johnston, Cassidy, Dalton, Tover, Trew, Phonsongkham, O’Donoghue. Substitutes: Skinner, Anderson, Hollar, Lincoln, Wainwright, Westaway.
Scorers: Tovar 29’, Phonsongkham 44’, Lincoln 84’.
WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS (4-2-2-2): Khamis, Wang, Buchanan, Hooks, Matos, Harada, Chessari, Harrison, Younis, Berryhill, Caspers. Substitutes: Bennett, Price, Sony, Yuan, Cerne, Edwards.
Scorer: Yuan 75’.
Referee: Rachael Mitchenson
Attendance: TBC
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