Another weekend of A-Leagues action kicked off on Friday night, with two games on the agenda.
In the Isuzu UTE A-League Men, Western Sydney Wanderers led Western United 1-0 before the league’s bottom-placed side mounted a resounding comeback, with Daniel Penha bagging two assists and a goal in United’s 3-1 win on the road.
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At the conclusion of the men’s action, attention turned to the Liberty A-League Women as Perth Glory fell to a 3-1 defeat to Wellington Phoenix in the Distance Derby.
Western Sydney 1-3 Western United (Isuzu UTE A-League Men)
MATCH CENTRE: Click here for stats, highlights, video and more
A dazzling second-half display from Brazilian midfielder Daniel Penha inspired Western United to a come-from-behind 3-1 win over Western Sydney Wanderers at CommBank Stadium on Friday night.
The Wanderers led 1-0 through Nicolas Milanovic but Penha’s dinked assist to Matthew Grimaldi saw United equal the ledger.
Penha put his side ahead with a clinical finish in the 77th minute before teeing up Socceroos striker Nikita Rukavytsya to complete the turnaround and confirm back-to-back wins for the visitors for the first time this season.
Friday night’s loss was Western Sydney’s second disappointing result in succession after Round 19’s 4-1 defeat to Sydney FC.
FULL MATCH REPORT: Brazilian’s brilliance inspires major upset as Wanderers collapse to bottom-placed Western United
Friday, 10:00pm AEDT: Perth Glory v Wellington Phoenix (Liberty A-League Women)
MATCH CENTRE: Click here for stats, highlights, video and more
FULL MATCH REPORT: Rising New Zealand star bags incredible strike as Phoenix dazzle against free-falling Glory
Wellington Phoenix extended Perth Glory’s winless run to nine Liberty A-League games with a 3-1 win at Macedonia Park on Friday night – the away side’s first victory in Australia in more than four months.
Alyssa Whinham was the star of the show for the Phoenix, scoring the opening goal and assisting Michaela Robertson’s winner after a Michaela Foster own goal on the cusp of half-time levelled the score.
Macey Fraser put the result beyond doubt with a long-range scorcher with just under 15 minutes to play, leaving in-form Glory keeper Morgan Aquino with no chance of making a save as the ball rocketed into the top-left corner.
Wellington have struggled of late, losing three games on the bounce and seven of their last eight games, but took maximum points on their travels to Perth as Glory’s form slump after a brilliant start to the season continued.
The Phoenix last won in Australia on October 22, 2023 against Western Sydney Wanderers in Round 2.
