Brisbane Roar 2-1 Perth Glory: Waddingham strikes late in A-League home win

Brisbane Roar claimed a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Perth Glory in the A-League at Suncorp Stadium on Friday, 23 October 2026, with a late goal settling a contest that stayed in the balance until the closing stages. The win gave Brisbane three valuable home points and left Perth Glory with a narrow away defeat in the 2026-27 season.

Brisbane controlled much of the ball and created the clearer chances, but Perth remained dangerous on the counterattack and briefly levelled the match in the second half. The decisive moment arrived late, when Brisbane’s bench made the difference and turned a tense 1-1 scoreline into a home victory.

Match overview

Brisbane Roar began with a high tempo, pressing Perth Glory’s back line and forcing turnovers in midfield. The home side’s width was a key feature, with Henry Hore and the full-backs stretching Perth’s defensive block and creating space between the lines. Perth, by contrast, sat deeper and looked to spring forward through quick transitions and direct passes into Adam Taggart.

The opening goal came in the 24th minute when Brisbane’s teenage forward Rylan Brownlie finished from close range after a low cross from the right was not fully cleared. Brownlie’s movement across the near post created the opening, and Brisbane’s sustained pressure was rewarded.

Perth responded well. Their equaliser arrived in the 58th minute through Adam Taggart, who powered a header past the Brisbane goalkeeper from a well-delivered set piece. The goal changed the mood of the match and forced Brisbane to reassert control during the final half-hour.

Key moments

• 12th minute: Perth’s first warning came on the break, but the shot was blocked inside the penalty area.
• 24th minute: Brisbane took the lead through Rylan Brownlie after a dangerous cross from the right.
• 41st minute: Perth goalkeeper Cameron Cook made a strong save to deny Brisbane a second goal before half-time.
• 58th minute: Adam Taggart equalised for Perth with a header from a set piece.
• 84th minute: Substitute Tom Waddingham scored the winner with a low finish from the edge of the box after a patient Brisbane move.
• 90+4 minutes: Perth pushed forward for a late equaliser, but Brisbane cleared a final ball into the box.

Tactical story

Brisbane’s 4-3-3 shape was built around quick ball circulation and aggressive pressing. The midfield trio worked hard to win second balls, and the wide players repeatedly attacked the space behind Perth’s full-backs. Brisbane’s best spells came when they switched play quickly and forced Perth to defend deep.

Perth Glory’s 4-4-2 block was designed to stay compact and deny central space. For long periods it worked, especially after the equaliser, when Perth slowed the tempo and invited Brisbane forward. The visitors’ best moments came from transitions, with Taggart holding the ball up and runners moving beyond him. In the end, however, Brisbane’s greater depth and late substitutions gave them the edge.

Standout players

• Rylan Brownlie (Brisbane Roar): Opened the scoring with sharp movement and gave Perth’s centre-backs a difficult evening.
• Henry Hore (Brisbane Roar): Provided constant width and creativity, especially in the first half.
• Tom Waddingham (Brisbane Roar): Made an immediate impact from the bench and scored the decisive goal.
• Adam Taggart (Perth Glory): Held the ball up well and scored a strong header to bring Perth back into the match.
• Cameron Cook (Perth Glory): Made several important saves to keep Perth level for as long as possible.

Season impact

The result strengthens Brisbane Roar’s position in the A-League standings and reinforces their home form in the early part of the 2026-27 campaign. Three points from a match that could easily have slipped away will be especially pleasing for the coaching staff, particularly with the impact made by the substitutes.

For Perth Glory, the defeat is a frustrating one. There were positives in their defensive organisation and the performance of Taggart, but narrow away losses can hurt a team’s push for the finals places. Perth will need to turn these competitive displays into points in their next A-League fixtures.