A-League Women: Perth Glory beat Brisbane Roar 3-2 thanks to Ella Abdul-Massih’s injury-time free-kick

A stoppage time free-kick from Ella Abdul-Massih and a Caitlin Doeglas double have seen Perth Glory come from behind to down fourth-placed Brisbane Roar 3-2 at Sam Kerr Football Centre. Doeglas’ fairytale return to the Glory continued as the striker twice equalised for Perth in a madcap first half, after Tameka Yallop and then Grace Kuilamu had given Brisbane the lead. A fortnight after her return to the A-League Women following four years out of the top tier, Doeglas’ first-half double looked to be enough for a point. But then substitute Abdul-Massih was brought down by Holly McQueen on the edge of the box in the 91st minute, which resulted in a red card before the teenager rocketed home the resultant free-kick. It snapped Perth’s six-game winless run and kept their finals dreams alive as they moved up to ninth in the league, seven points behind sixth-placed Wellington. Yallop gave Brisbane the lead just eight minutes in when Perth’s inability to clear a corner saw the Matildas forward hold off Natalie Tathem before backheeling past Casey Dumont. Glory were then dealt another early blow when Georgia Cassidy was forced off, having passed concussion protocols pre-game. But they were not discouraged, and it was only a good save from Olivia Sekany that prevented Doeglas from equalising one-on-one before the Brisbane goalkeeper then palmed away an attempt from Gabby Hollar. However, Doeglas atoned for her earlier miss when Brisbane turned the ball over in their own half and the Glory forward turned her marked before finding the corner of the net with her shot. The goals kept coming three minutes later when Kuilamu restored the Roar’s advantage, squeezing a shot underneath Dumont. And not long after, Doeglas got on the scoresheet to bring her side level again when she pounced on Sekany’s hesitation with the ball at her feet to steal in and slot home. Megan Wynne could have given Perth the lead before the break after she found herself running free and bound for a goal, but Sekany tipped her effort around the post. Brisbane received a blow in the second half when Wolfsburg-bound Matildas winger Sharn Freier was forced off with what looked to be a serious ankle injury. Dumont came to Perth’s rescue when she denied Kuilamu from close range, and then her opposite number Sekany did the same to thwart Doeglas up the other end. It looked like the game was destined for a draw, until Natalie Tathem’s curled through ball played in Abdul-Massih, who nipped in ahead of McQueen, drawing a foul and a sending off before she smashed home the winner.