Sydney FC has kept their A-League Women finals hopes alive with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Perth Glory at Allianz Stadium on April 12, 2025. The match was a tense affair, with both teams needing a win to maintain any chance of making the top six. However, it was Princess Ibini who emerged as the hero, scoring a stunning goal in stoppage time to secure the crucial three points for Sydney.
The match began with both sides struggling to find their rhythm, resulting in a first half that resembled a midfield arm-wrestle. Sydney had the first opportunity just six minutes in when Indiana dos Santos delivered a corner that Tori Tumeth connected with, but her volley was cleared by Perth's Sarah O’Donoghue. Three minutes later, dos Santos was again involved, setting up Mackenzie Hawkesby, whose powerful shot was expertly saved by Miranda Templeman.
Perth Glory, under the management of Stephen Peters, had their moments as well. Susan Phonsongkham showcased her skills with a powerful run down the left, only to see her shot hit the side netting. As the match progressed, the visitors began to apply pressure, with Ella Abdul-Massih appearing to be fouled in the box, but referee Sarah Jones waved away their penalty claims.
The second half saw Perth continuing to push for a breakthrough. Phonsongkham remained a constant threat, and with five minutes left in regular time, she created a golden opportunity for Glory, but Jasmine Black, the Sydney goalkeeper, made a crucial save to keep the scores level.
With the clock ticking down and the match seemingly heading for a stalemate, the drama unfolded in the first minute of stoppage time. Dos Santos floated a cross into the box, which fell to Ibini. The winger, who had come off the bench, took a touch to control the ball before curling a beautiful shot into the far corner of the net, sending the home crowd into raptures.
This last-gasp goal not only secured the win for Sydney FC but also kept their hopes alive of reaching the finals for the 17th consecutive season. After a rocky start to the season, where they managed only two wins in their first 16 matches, the Sky Blues have turned their fortunes around, winning five of their last six games.
Post-match, Sydney FC coach Ante Juric expressed his pride in the team's performance. “We were the most dominant team but in saying that I don’t think we were at our best. We showed the desire and the will to win the three points,” he said. Juric acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating, “It’s not near impossible, but other teams have to falter. We do our job and whatever happens, happens.”
Meanwhile, the defeat was a bitter pill for Perth Glory, whose finals aspirations were extinguished by the narrow loss. They felt aggrieved that Ibini was still on the field after a studs-up challenge on captain Izzy Dalton earlier in the half, which only resulted in a yellow card.
As the match concluded, the implications for both teams were clear. Sydney FC now sits just two points behind the sixth-placed Canberra United, needing to win their final match against Adelaide United and hoping for favorable results in other fixtures to secure a playoff spot. The pressure is mounting as they head into the final round of the regular season, where every point counts.
The attendance at Allianz Stadium was 2,481, a testament to the growing interest in women's football in Australia. With Sydney FC's resurgence, fans are hopeful their team can make one last push for the finals.
As the league heads into its final weekend, all eyes will be on the results that will determine the playoff picture. Sydney FC's fate now lies not only in their own hands but also in the outcomes of their rivals in the race for the finals.
