Report by Tommy Doleman
Perth Azzurri are celebrating back-to-back league titles after becoming 2026 New Balance NPL WA Women’s champions.
Azzurri initially failed to complete the job, held to a 1-1 draw by the Hyundai Football West Academy on Saturday.
However, closest rivals Balcatta Etna played out a 1-1 draw of their own on Sunday, against Fremantle City. That means Azzurri hold an unassailable four-point lead with just one round remaining.
It is a well-deserved triumph for Tom Glavovic and his team despite a late-season wobble. They were unbeaten for the first 17 rounds of the campaign and were 10 points in front of the pack before successive losses saw their advantage reduced going into the penultimate round.
And they made a nervy start against an Academy side who were looking to register consecutive wins for the first time this term.
Andy Ord’s team are chasing a top-four finish and were awarded a penalty on four minutes when Savanna Glavovic’s cross hit the arm of Louise Tana. Glavovic, the daughter of the Azzurri head coach, dispatched the spot-kick with confidence for her fifth goal of the campaign.
Azzurri shook off the setback, and Charli Wainwright’s shot was saved by Academy’s Daisy McGreadie-Cole. And they were rewarded with an equaliser on 34 minutes when Wainwright’s strong challenge in midfield broke for Ella Lincoln, who slipped a pass through for Epril Nossent to poke past the onrushing McGreadie-Cole.
After the break, Ruby Marshall’s long-range attempt was pushed away by the Academy keeper, while at the other end Milla Butler’s free-kick was well kept out by Dayle Schroeder.
Perth then pushed forward as the Academy fought to end a nine-game losing run against their opponents. Marshall forced another fine save from McGreadie-Cole, before Kim McCartney’s free-kick was comfortably gathered by the alert goalkeeper. Nossent’s header then went over the bar late on and the game ended all square.
That meant there were to be no on-pitch celebrations, but by 5pm on Sunday the wait was over as Balcatta’s admirable pursuit of the leaders finally faltered after a five-game winning run.
Fremantle had their own need for victory as they looked to overhaul Balcatta in second spot, and they went close when Lacey Heys curled an effort just wide of Rebecca Bennett’s goal. At the other end, Caitlin Doeglas flashed just wide from Alyssa Van Heurck’s pass in a scoreless first half.
Freo again threatened after the interval and Abbey Green’s determined run and shot flew straight at Bennett. Freo hit the front midway through the second half when Janica Kiama found Tanika Lala, who took a touch before firing home from just inside the box.
Balcatta rallied to try and take the title race into the final day and Lala was forced to clear Mia Britton’s header to safety. The hosts’ late pressure finally told on 88 minutes after a nicely worked move down the left which saw Doeglas’ cross land at the feet of Jamie-Lee Gale, who tapped in.
Both sides chased a winner in the few remaining minutes, and Balcatta did have the ball in the net but Gale was flagged offside. But a draw it was, which meant the only team satisfied at the final whistle were Azzurri.
Heading into the final round, Balcatta need only to match Freo’s result to ensure they get a double chance to defend their Top Four Cup crown.
Elsewhere, Liana Cook scored a late double as Subiaco kept their Top Four Cup hopes alive with a 3-2 win over Perth RedStar at Rosalie Park.
RedStar remain fourth, ahead of the Academy on goal difference with Subiaco in sixth just a point behind going into next Sunday’s final round of fixtures.
All the goals came in an entertaining final 20 minutes at Rosalie Park. Klaudia Houlis got the opener for RedStar when shrugging off her marker and finishing past Briana O’Dell, despite the goalkeeper getting a glove to it.
But RedStar switched off straight after scoring and conceded immediately from the kick-off. Laura Waltman lifted a pass over the visiting defence and Niamh Taylor-Hughes broke forward from midfield to stroke home.
RedStar led again on 75 minutes when Houlis’ cross was cleared straight to Alkira Mogridge, who headed in.
Cook proved to be the hero though with two headers in the final eight minutes. The striker nodded in Taylor-Hughes’ superb cross, before attacking Ella Mastratonio’s corner in stoppage time to secure the points for Subi.
The victory means that Subiaco have recorded their highest points tally in the NPL era and are in the hunt for a first appearance in the Top Four Cup.
Finally, Sorrento FC took a massive step towards safety as they UWA Nedlands 1-0 in a clash between the league’s bottom two sides.
Chances were few and far between in a tight first half at Percy Doyle Reserve. But Sorrento broke the deadlock on 57 minutes when Young Matildas midfielder Georgia Cassidy stole possession in the Uni half, drove into the penalty box, and unleashed an unstoppable finish across Janina Sauer into the far corner.
UWA had their chances to claim an equaliser as Samara Riches struck just wide from Hailey Russell’s pass, before Lisa Evans’ long-range attempt was saved by Amalia Caceres.
Sorrento stood firm though to pick up their first win since Round Eight and are now unlikely to finish bottom, given they have a three-point lead and a significant goal difference advantage over UWA.
