Perth Glory's recent defensive resilience was shattered by a Holly McNamara masterclass, as the Melbourne City striker netted a superb hat-trick in a 3-1 victory at AAMI Park on Sunday, 28 December 2025.
McNamara Magic Proves Decisive
Despite a spirited and improved performance from the visiting side, Glory were ultimately undone by the clinical finishing of the 22-year-old Matildas forward. McNamara's trio of goals, all assisted by the influential Leah Davidson, showcased her sharp movement and composure in front of goal.
The match began promisingly for Perth, who executed coach Stephen Peters's plan to press high. They created the better early chances, with Bronte Trew missing a close-range opportunity in the third minute and Susan Phonsongkham firing wide.
City Seize Control Before the Break
Against the run of play, Melbourne struck first in the 23rd minute. Davidson slipped a precise pass through the Glory defence, allowing McNamara to race through and finish calmly. City grew in confidence and doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time after a costly Perth error. Tijan McKenna was dispossessed on the edge of her own box, allowing Davidson to set up McNamara for a simple finish.
Glory showed immediate fight after halftime. Just five minutes into the second period, Bronte Trew tapped home at the back post following excellent build-up play from Georgia Cassidy and Grace Johnston, making it 2-1 and setting up a tense finale.
Classy Finish Seals the Points
Melbourne City squandered a chance to restore their two-goal cushion when Danella Butrus shot straight at goalkeeper Teresa Morrissey. However, McNamara put the result beyond doubt in the 71st minute, completing her hat-trick with a clever dinked finish over Morrissey after another defence-splitting pass from Davidson.
The result has significant implications for the league ladder. Melbourne City climbed to third position, despite having played fewer games than many rivals, while Perth Glory slipped to eighth. For Glory, the performance offered positives in attack but highlighted the cost of defensive lapses against top-quality opposition.
