Brisbane Roar came from behind to beat Perth Glory 2-1 at Suncorp Stadium on Friday, 23 October 2026, in a lively Australia A-League encounter that swung on a second-half substitution and a decisive set-piece.

Perth had taken a deserved first-half lead through Adam Taggart, but Brisbane equalised shortly before the break via Thomas Waddingham and found the winner in the 78th minute when Jez Lofthouse headed home Jay O’Shea’s corner. The result gives the Roar a valuable home victory and leaves Glory with a familiar sense of frustration after another promising performance slipped away.

Match overview

Brisbane set up in a 4-2-3-1 shape, looking to control possession through O’Shea and Henry Hore while getting runners into the box from wide areas. Perth, by contrast, were content to defend in a compact 4-4-2 mid-block and attack quickly through Taggart and Stefan Colakovski. That game plan worked well for much of the first half, with Glory’s front two isolating Brisbane’s centre-backs and forcing the Roar into sideways passing.

The opening goal arrived in the 17th minute when Colakovski beat his marker on the right and whipped a low cross into the corridor between Brisbane’s goalkeeper and defence. Taggart read the flight first, adjusted his body and guided the ball past Macklin Freke from close range. Suncorp Stadium fell quiet, and Perth briefly looked the more settled side.

Brisbane’s response was patient rather than frantic. O’Shea began dropping deeper to collect the ball, while Hore drifted into central areas to combine with Waddingham. The equaliser came two minutes before half-time when Hore’s aggressive press forced a loose pass near the Perth box. The ball fell to Waddingham, who took one touch to set himself and drilled a low finish into the far corner.

Key moments

• 17th minute – Perth take the lead: Colakovski’s cross from the right is converted by Taggart at the near post to make it 0-1.
• 43rd minute – Roar equalise: Hore wins the ball high up the pitch and Waddingham finishes calmly for 1-1.
• 58th minute – Freke stands firm: The Brisbane goalkeeper saves low to his left after Taggart links with Colakovski on the counter.
• 78th minute – Lofthouse winner: O’Shea’s inswinging corner is met by substitute Lofthouse, whose header beats the Perth goalkeeper despite a late attempt on the line.
• 90+4 minutes – Late Glory pressure: Taggart rises well to meet a deep cross, but Freke claims comfortably under pressure.

Tactical story

The match turned on Brisbane’s second-half adjustments. With Perth’s midfield tiring after an hour of disciplined pressing, the Roar pushed their full-backs higher and created overloads on the flanks. O’Shea’s delivery became increasingly dangerous, and the introduction of Lofthouse gave Brisbane a more direct presence in the box.

Perth’s best moments came in transition. Taggart was excellent at holding the ball up, and Colakovski’s willingness to run at defenders gave Brisbane problems throughout the first half. However, Glory struggled to sustain possession in the final 20 minutes, and their set-piece defending ultimately cost them. Brisbane finished with more shots on target and more corners, a reflection of how the game tilted after the interval.

Standout performers

Thomas Waddingham was central to Brisbane’s comeback, combining sharp movement with a composed finish for the equaliser. Jay O’Shea controlled the tempo and delivered the assist for the winner, while Macklin Freke made important saves at 1-1 and in stoppage time. For Perth, Adam Taggart was the focal point of nearly every dangerous attack, and Stefan Colakovski provided the game’s most consistent wide threat.

What it means for the A-League standings

The win lifts Brisbane Roar into the early finals places and gives the club momentum ahead of a difficult away trip to Melbourne City. Perth Glory remain outside the top six after another narrow defeat, though the performance offered enough encouragement in possession and transition to suggest results will improve if their set-piece defending tightens up.

For Brisbane, the result was a demonstration of squad depth: a substitute scored the winner, the captain dictated the second half and the goalkeeper delivered when called upon. In a competition where fine margins often decide the finals race, that combination is exactly what the Roar need.