Football West News
Western Australia head coach Carlos Vega Mena praised his side’s fighting spirit despite going down 4-2 to Perth Glory in an entertaining Challenge Cup clash at Olympic Kingsway’s Madman Arena.
Glory deserved their win in the rain, built on a two-goal burst in the opening 16 minutes.
But credit must also go to a youthful State Team who refused to buckle against a side a week out from the start of the A-League campaign.
Glory were straight out of the blocks and took the lead on 12 minutes. The State Team struggled to clear a corner, and Glory’s new central defender Baxter Thew, a former NPL winner with MUM FC, swept the ball home.
Stephen Peters’ side, possibly fired up by their Challenge Cup loss to WA a year ago, stayed on the front foot and quickly doubled their advantage as Ella Abdul Massih’s shot was deflected into the net by a home defender.
WA eventually began to settle and got back into the contest in style on 24 minutes. Fremantle City midfielder Lacey Heys broke and laid the ball off to Caitlin Doeglas and Balcatta Etna’s NPL Golden Boot winner brilliantly chipped keeper Alyssa Dall’Oste from the corner of the box.
Unfortunately for the State side, Glory soon re-established their two-goal lead as Ella Lincoln raced on to Thew’s pass and finished well to make it 3-1 at the break.
View this post on Instagram
Lincoln, who helped Perth Azzurri win the 2026 New Balance NPL title, made it 4-1 five minutes after the restart and at that stage there was a possibility of a one-sided blow-out.
However, WA responded almost immediately and again former Glory A-League player Doeglas was involved, delivering a terrific ball to the back post which Azzurri striker Jess Flannery put away.
View this post on Instagram
While there were no further goals, Vega Mena was delighted with his team’s attitude.
“It was an honour to lead this group,” he said.
“The difference between a professional team and one from the NPL, you could see it in some moments of the game. But the most important thing was we fought together and we scored two brilliant goals.
“At 4-1, maybe with another team it would have ended up seven or 8-1. However, when we scored the second goal, it was really competitive. I’m really happy. We had five training sessions; three were for selection and two were with the full squad, so we can be pleased.”
Doeglas and another ex-Glory player, Subiaco’s Ella Mastrantonio, were two of the stand-out players for WA, while Vega Mena was equally encouraged by the younger members of the squad.
“I’m happy we have more younger players, like Heys, Ischia Brooking, Tanika Lala. And players from the Football West Academy and ex-Academy too. That was the idea, to bring in these young players. They have the level to get in the A-League and I hope in the future they get the opportunity to show their quality.”
As for Glory, they begin their A-League campaign next Saturday away to Newcastle Jets, and Vega Mena said: “They will appreciate this kind of friendly game. It was a challenge for them and will prepare them for the season.”
WA State Team: 18.Cassia SOUZA (GK) (Fremantle City), 5.Alyssa VAN HEURK (Balcatta Etna), 13,Ella MASTRANTONIO (Subiaco), 14.Tanika LALA (Fremantle City), 15.Caitlin DOEGLAS (Balcatta Etna), 17.Kaitlyn BELLANCA (Perth RedStar), 19.Kim McCARTNEY (Perth Azzurri), 20.Ischia BROOKING (Fremantle City), 22.Alex POAD (Fremantle City), 23.Lacey HEYS (Fremantle City), 25.Daniella SANTICH (Hyundai FW Academy)
Substitutes: 6.Louise TANA (Perth Azzurri), 11.Jess FLANNERY (Perth Azzurri), 16.Annabelle LEAK (Fremantle City), 21.Sam MATHERS (Perth Azzurri), 27.Laura WALTMAN (Subiaco), 89.Dayle SCHRODER (GK) (Perth Azzurri), Cate McAULIFFE (Hyundai FW Academy)
