A-League Women: Perth Glory beat Wellington Phoenix 2-1 to keep top six hopes alive

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A-League Women: Perth Glory beat Wellington Phoenix 2-1 to keep top six hopes alive

Perth Glory are back in the A-League Women’s winner’s circle after downing Wellington Phoenix 2-1 at the Sam Kerr Football Centre to keep their flickering finals hopes alive.

Isobel Dalton and Olivia Fergusson traded first half goals as the sides went in level at the break, but an unfortunate own-goal by Tiana Jaber gifted Perth all three points.

Victory allowed Perth to move up into ninth spot and within five points of the eighth-placed Wellington with seven games to play.

While they will need to make up nine points on Central Coast Mariners in order to make the finals, the win will give Stephen Peters’ side plenty of confidence.

In her last game of her comeback stint, Caitlin Doeglas almost put Perth ahead inside the opening 10 minutes when she found herself one-on-one but with the defence closing in, her lofted strike flew just over, before Kelli Brown saw her side-footed attempt saved.

With Casey Dumont ruled out through Achilles soreness, Miranda Templeman started in goal for Perth and saved an early attempt from Manaia Elliott, while the action continued up the other end as Dalton hit the bar.

Fergusson and Annalie Longo posed problems for the Glory in the final third as the latter teed up the former to shoot wide.

However, it was the hosts who took the lead in the 31st minute when Dalton played a one-two with Sarah O’Donoghue on the edge of the box before sliding the ball into the bottom corner.

Camera IconIt was a much-needed three points for the Glory. Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images

It was almost 2-0 not long after when Doeglas hit the bar, however the game would go into the break level when Longo fed Fergusson, who poked the ball past Templeman.

Wellington almost stole a lead at half time when Elliott broke in behind, but the bar came to the Glory’s rescue, and shortly after the restart they almost scored again when Templeman gifted the Phoenix possession in the box, but they couldn’t convert.

Perth worked their way into the half and grew in confidence after a slow reboot, began to gain the upper hand and they almost took the lead when Dalton’s corner landed on the goal-line, but the Phoenix managed to clear their lines.

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Camera IconOlivia Fergusson celebrates her goal. Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images

A breakthrough came in the 71st minute, when they launched a quick counter-attack which ended in Megan Wynne’s teasing cross being turned into her own net by Jaber.

Perth almost put the game beyond doubt seven minutes late when the ball fell to Onyinyechi Zogg from a corner, but her effort hit the post.

Wellington did not create many chance to snatch a point late, outside of a Fergusson header which flew past Templeman but failed to hit the target.

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Camera IconMegan Wynne controls the ball against Lara Wall of the Phoenix. Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images

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