Perth Glory Falls Short in 5-2 Defeat to Melbourne City Despite Early Lead

From the first whistle, Perth Glory displayed a daring strategy that paid off early on. Debutant Kelli Brown capitalized on a defensive lapse by Melbourne City, deftly chipping the ball over goalkeeper Malena Mieres to open the scoring just seven minutes into the game. Early in the second half, Miku Sunaga doubled the lead, lofting a perfectly placed shot into the net and putting Glory in control. But City’s immediate response to Sunaga’s goal was a turning point, as they cut the lead in half just minutes later, reigniting their dominant form.

A Tale of Two Halves: Glory’s Promising Start Fades Against Reigning Premiers Melbourne City

After Sunaga’s 51st-minute goal, Melbourne City quickly shifted gears. Star midfielder Rhianna Pollicina led the charge, pouncing on a loose ball from a Leticia McKenna shot rebound and finding the back of the net to make it 2-1. Within minutes, substitute Kathryn Harvey leveled the score, finishing from close range after Glory failed to clear a corner. From there, City maintained their offensive, with Pollicina curling a beautiful 20-meter shot to give her side the lead, and Harvey added her second soon after with an opportunistic finish.

Newcomers Brown and Sunaga Shine Early, but City’s Late Surge Seals the Win

While Perth Glory controlled much of the first half and even extended their lead early in the second, Melbourne City’s relentless counterattacks proved too much. Pollicina capped off a stellar performance by assisting Laura Hughes, who slotted home in stoppage time to round out the 5-2 scoreline. Though the final score might not reflect the balance of play, it underscored City’s ability to punish defensive lapses and capitalize on scoring opportunities.

Glory’s debutants Brown and Sunaga showed promise, providing a dynamic start that caught City off-guard, yet the reigning Premiers’ depth and experience ultimately tipped the scales. For Glory, the game was a hard lesson in sustaining momentum and defensive fortitude as they move forward in the season.

Match Details:

• Ninja A-League 2024/25 Season, Round 1
• Final Score: Melbourne City 5 (Pollicina 53′, 69′, Harvey 63′, 73′, Hughes 90+4′) Perth Glory 2 (Brown 7′, Sunaga 51′)
• Venue: ctrlPitch
• Date: Sunday, 3 November 2024
• Attendance: 582
• Referee: Rebecca Durcau

Tags: #MelbourneCity #PerthGlory #ALeague #SoccerNews #KelliBrown #MikuSunaga #pitchside.hq