A-League Women: Perth Glory extend winless run to six games after 4-1 thumping by Western United

Perth Glory’s troubling A-League Women’s form has continued as they slumped to a 4-1 loss to Western United at Ironbark Fields to leave them nine points adrift of the finals race.

The injury-hit Glory have produced a number of battling performances in recent weeks, but were soundly beaten on Tuesday night as their winless run extended to six games.

An own-goal by Claudia Valletta was followed almost immediately by a Grace Maher ‘Olimpico’ goal direct from a corner as the hosts led 2-0 at half-time.

And Mel Taranto’s long-range effort with 20 minutes to play made the three points safe for United and while Gabby Hollar grabbed a consolation goal for the Glory, Aimee Medwin sealed it late.

Defeat made it back-to-back losses for Perth for the second time in a month and the Glory sit in 11th spot with just two wins to their name and take on a dangerous Brisbane Roar at home on Sunday.

United were dominant in the first-half and Catherine Zimmerman had two of the hosts’ most promising early chances, but was unable to find the target.

It took almost 20 minutes for Perth to threaten their opponents, when Hollar stabbed Megan Wynne’s cross wide.

But up the other end, the chances kept coming, with Naomi Chinnama producing an excellent block to prevent Adriano Taranto from turning the ball home.

However, United took a deserved lead through unfortunate circumstances in the 34th minute, when Adriano Taranto’s shot was deflected away by Casey Dumont, only for Valletta to slice her attempted clearance into her own net.

Two minutes later and it was 2-0, when Maher curled a corner to the back post which evaded Dumont before nestling in the bottom corner of the net.

Dumont was once again the busier of the two goalkeepers after the restart as she foiled Chloe Logarzo and Karly Johnson, but Perth should have scored when Hollar headed a corner wide just a few yards out.

But she was beaten for the third time when Mel Taranto advanced unchallenged in midfield and unleashed a low, fizzing strike to seal the points.

Hollar pulled one back with 10 minutes to go when she hit the bar before poking home the rebound, before Charli Wainwright almost applied more pressure when she was denied by the bar from distance.

But United added a fourth a few minutes later when Kiara De Domizio’s deflected shot fell nicely into the path for Medwin to slam home.