Perth Glory 1-0 Canberra United
by Ben Gilby (14/2/26)
Above: Spectacular action as Canberra United’s Emma Hawkins hits an effort, watched by Perth Glory’s Tijan McKenna. Photo: Rob Lizzi for Impetus.
Perth Glory reignited their Finals hopes with this vital victory over a Canberra United side who went into the round in third spot on the ladder.
Whilst the Western Australian side had the better of the territory and shots on target count, it was an extremely tight game that was only settled by Hayley-Taylor Young’s own goal with 10 minutes to go to separate the teams. The outcome now sees the Glory only outside the top six on goal difference.
The home side went into the game without a win in their last four matches, and head coach Stephen Peters made two changes to his starting line-up from last week’s Distance Derby at Wellington Phoenix, with young local stars Charli Wainwright and Ella Lincoln coming in for Nat Tathem and Bronte Trew.
Canberra began the round in third place on the ladder after successive wins over Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC, with boss Antoni Jagarinec bringing Jazmin Wardlow into his starting XI for Emma Robers.
The game opened on a tough, competitive nature with immediate chances few and far between as events conspired to be largely played out in the middle third.
Canberra had a half chance with 13 minutes on the clock when Bethany Gordon sent a free-kick in from a central position just outside the box, but the ball landed comfortably into arms of an untroubled Teresa Morrissey in the Perth goal.
Shortly afterwards, Onyi Zogg volleyed a long ball forward from inside her own half which was in turn played through by clinically by Lincoln for Susan Phonsongkham to hit a shot from around 25 yards, but the effort was well over the top.
Zogg and Lincoln combined once more on the half hour mark, with the Glory attacker taking the ball towards the right hand post before laying back to Rola Badawiya, who saw her curling shot roll into the arms of Sally James.
The last half chance of the half fell to the visitors’ Taylor-Young, who curled a shot well over the top and wide from the left-hand edge of the area.
The same player fashioned the first opportunity of the second half, but her mazy run ended with a similar outcome to that of her previous effort.
Canberra saw another chance go begging seven minutes into the half as Emma Hawkins beat Grace Johnston to cross in for Gordon, but her first time volley from just outside the six-yard box went over the bar.
Just before the hour mark, Perth responded by fashioning their best opportunity of the game so far. Sarah O’Donoghue was released by a long ball along the right and played in a high cross. Phonsongkham got between Tegan Bertolissio and Sasha Grove to meet it with a superb first time volley that James tipped over the top with a magnificent flying save.
Ten minutes later, Phonsongkham was denied again by Canberra’s Junior Matilda capped shot stopper when a cross from the right wasn’t dealt with by the visiting defence, and the ball fell kindly for the Glory attacker to hit a low shot that James pushed round the far post. The visitors felt that Phonsongkham handled in controlling the ball and stopped before she hit the shot, but referee Isabelle Mossin ignored the claims and merely pointed for the corner.
Phonsongkham delivered it viciously curling in towards the back post with Taylor-Young’s attempted clearance driven into the roof of the net from close range.
With two minutes of regulation time remaining, Phonsongkam went down in the area, but Mossin was not persuaded to point to the spot, and Izzy Dalton sent a chip over the top.
Canberra’s final chance of salvaging a point came six minutes into stoppage time when Michelle Heyman’s attempt at crossing in from the left took a deflection and an awkward bounce that caught out the Perth defence, and fell for Sienna Dale to turn across. Gordon was positioned on the edge of the six-yard box, but could only hit her shot wide of the goal.
Perth’s victory sets them up for a massive game away to Newcastle Jets next Saturday in the final game before the break for the early stages of the Asian Women’s Cup. Victory at the No. 2 Sportsground will give the purple’s a real chance of claiming a first Finals spot since 2018/19.
With so many sides battling out for so few Finals spots, Canberra United have to get back on the horse quickly – their final game before the break is at home to a Western Sydney Wanderers side who have hit their best run of form of the season, a run which gives them a chance of clinching only their second Finals qualification in their 14 year history.
The chaos League is delivering in spades this season. Strap yourself in, we’re in for a heck of a last five rounds of the home and away season.
For the full gallery of Rob Lizzi’s images from the match, check out our Instagram page @ImpetusFootball.
Teams: PERTH GLORY (4-3-3): Morrissey, Johnston, Zogg, McKenna, Sardo, Tovar, Dalton, Wainwright, Phonsongkham, Lincoln, Badawiya. Substitutes: Anderson, Skinner, Cassidy, O’Donoghue, Tathem, Trew.
Scorers: Taylor-Young (OG) 81′.
CANBERRA UNITED (4-4-2): James, Sasaki, Wardlow, Taylor-Young, Grove, Bertolissio, Hawkins, Anton, Gordon, Heyman, Aulicino. Substitutes: Christopherson, Dale, Majstorovic, Malone, Robers, Stanic-Floody.
Referee: Isabella Mossin.
Attendance:
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