Perth Glory's challenging A-League Women season has hit a new low, crashing to a comprehensive 3-0 defeat against a dominant Melbourne Victory on Sunday. The loss marks a dismal fourth consecutive defeat for the Western Australian side, a streak not seen since 2021, which has now sent them tumbling to the foot of the competition ladder.
Midfield Absences Prove Costly
The match, which experienced a 15-minute lightning delay before kick-off, quickly turned into a one-sided affair. Glory were severely hampered by the absence of their first-choice central midfield pairing of Isobel Dalton and Emma Tovar. This forced a reshuffle, with Susan Phonsongkham playing in an unfamiliar role and Tijan McKenna dropping into a makeshift centre-back position.
Melbourne Victory's midfield trio seized control, exploiting the disorganisation and cutting through Perth's centre at will. The statistical dominance was stark, with the hosts enjoying 65 per cent possession and registering 11 shots to Perth's three by half-time.
Clinical Victory Put Game to Bed in First Half
The home side's pressure translated into goals before the break. The deadlock was broken in the 21st minute when Kennedy White found space in the box to fire Zoe McMeeken's low cross into the top corner.
Perth came agonisingly close to an immediate equaliser when Rola Badawiya hit the post, but the momentum swiftly swung back to Victory. Former Glory winger Sofia Sakalis doubled the lead in the 36th minute, capitalising on a defensive error to score from close range.
The first-half collapse was complete just four minutes before the break when Rihanna Pollicina's strike took a cruel deflection off the unfortunate Tijan McKenna, wrong-footing goalkeeper Alyssa Dall'Oste to make it 3-0.
Familiar Struggles and a Lonely Table Position
The second half offered no reprieve for the visitors, who were unable to land a punch on the Victory goal. Dall'Oste was forced into several saves to prevent further damage as Melbourne continued to press.
The result leaves Perth Glory level on points with Central Coast Mariners and Western Sydney Wanderers. However, their league-worst goal difference of -7 has condemned them to last place, a stark contrast to their opening-day victory over the Wanderers which now feels a distant memory.
