Melbourne Victory secured all three points on Sunday with a dramatic last-minute goal by Alana Murphy, spoiling Casey Dumont’s hopes of a clean sheet in her milestone 150th A-League game.
Murphy’s stunning long-range strike in the second minute of stoppage time capped off an intense match at Sam Kerr Football Centre, where fans were kept on the edge of their seats. Playing in front of their home crowd for the first time at the new venue, Perth Glory initially used the windy conditions to their advantage, starting strong. However, Melbourne quickly adapted with precise passing and fluid movement to neutralize the breeze, although they struggled to penetrate Perth’s disciplined defence.
At halftime, Melbourne would have been satisfied with the 0-0 scoreline, and they ramped up the pressure in the second half, keeping Perth pinned in their half for extended periods. Glory’s defence held firm and Dumont made a crucial penalty save in the 69th minute after Onyinyechi Zogg was penalized for handball. Rachel Lowe’s spot kick was stopped brilliantly, keeping the game goalless.
As stoppage time loomed, the match seemed destined for a draw until Beattie Goad’s clever movement on the left set up Ava Briedis, who teed up Murphy for her match-winning strike. The goal secured Melbourne’s first win over Perth since 2022, propelling them to second place on the ladder, while Glory sits 11th with four points.
Challenges at Perth Glory’s Home Ground
Sunday’s match was held at the Sam Kerr Football Centre, Perth’s eighth home ground. While the facility is a clear upgrade from previous venues, the lack of atmosphere remains an issue. Long spells of defensive play and limited possession left little for home fans to cheer about.
Coach Stephen Peters has emphasized the importance of using home-ground advantage by applying pressure from the kickoff and energizing the crowd. However, Perth’s lack of sustained attacking momentum made it difficult to create that hostile environment for their opponents and Peters made mention of this in his post-match comments;
“We didn’t start the way we wanted to, we didn’t bring the crowd into the game at all in the first half, and I think we need to do that a little bit better.”
Casey Dumont’s Milestone Performance
Goalkeeper Casey Dumont marked her 150th A-League match on Sunday, becoming the league’s first goalkeeper to reach this milestone. Despite joining Perth only recently, Dumont’s impact has been transformative. After conceding nine goals in three matches before her arrival, the team has allowed just two since. Her commanding presence was evident with a crucial penalty save and excellent leadership in defence. Dumont is expected to play a pivotal role for Perth in the weeks ahead.
Melbourne Victory Showcases Squad Depth
Despite missing two key players, Emily Gielnik and Alex Chidiac, due to Matildas duty, Melbourne dominated possession in the final third with 190 passes to Perth’s 91. Coach Jeff Hopkins praised his team’s adaptability and squad depth.
“We’ve been saying to the players that they’d get a chance to prove themselves, and everyone delivered today. Even those who didn’t get on gave me a few selection headaches,” Hopkins remarked.
Kayla Morrison Impresses National Selectors
Victory captain Kayla Morrison delivered a commanding performance, further solidifying her case for a Matildas call-up once FIFA clearances are finalized. She excelled under pressure, with a game-high passing distance of 809 metres and an impressive 90% accuracy. Hopkins lauded her contribution, saying:
“That was classic Kayla Morrison. She’s calm on the ball, defends solidly, and leads the backline brilliantly. With Claudia (Bunge) beside her, our defence is improving every game.”
Perth Glory’s Defensive Resilience
Despite the loss, Perth demonstrated they are becoming tougher to beat. It required a special goal by Victory to break the deadlock on Sunday, with Dumont and her defence working tirelessly and showcasing determination and cohesion. Coach Peters praised the defensive effort, saying:
“(Losing the goal) was frustrating because it’s probably the first time we let them pull the trigger from there and it’s something that has happened in a couple of games already, so we’ve worked on that and I thought defensively we were really, really good,” he said.
