Late-night games at HBF Park never disappoint, and Friday night’s win against reigning premiers Melbourne City was a significant result for the Perth Glory.
Right from the start, the Glory’s game plan was clear: park the bus and capitalise on City’s vulnerabilities in transition.
For most of the game, the flow tilted heavily in favour of Melbourne City. The challenge was adapting to the heat, with temperatures hitting 30 degrees at kick off, but City quickly found their rhythm.
Executing their tempo effectively, City dominated possession, with Andrew Nabbout’s inch-perfect cross to Jamie Maclaren nearly resulting in an early lead. The Glory, seeking their opportunities on the break, had their first chance 11 minutes into the game.
A well-timed intervention by Daniel Bennie led to a powerful run by Johnny Koutroumbis. His link-up play with Adam Taggart almost caught Jamie Young off guard, forcing a corner.
However, Melbourne City struck first as Tolgay Arslan’s cross deflected off Aleksandar Šušnjar, leaving goalkeeper Oli Sail with no chance. The Glory quickly sought to find the equaliser, with Stefan Colakovski’s one-on-one against Jamie Young, following a loose pass from Nuno Reis, saved at close range.
Despite Oli Sail denying further attempts from Jamie Maclaren, the Glory capitalised on some sloppy defending from the visitors. Nuno Reis’ push on Bruce Kamau in the box resulted in a penalty, that was converted cooly by Mustafa Amini just before half time.
The second half mirrored the first, with Melbourne City creating opportunities. Oli Sail, having his best performance in a Glory shirt, kept the team in the game. However, Léo Natel’s chance and subsequent rebound hitting the post just before the hour mark hinted at fortune favouring the Glory until City regained the lead.
A misplaced pass by Giordano Colli to Oli Sail was intercepted by Jamie Maclaren, who found Tolgay Arslan for a straightforward finish. Defensive lapses have been a recurring theme for the Glory this season, making wins more challenging than necessary.
Alen Stajcic then went to the bench, bringing on super sub David Williams and it paid off big time as ten minutes later the Glory turned the game around. They equalised through Scott Galloway’s own goal and then took the lead with Adam Taggart’s strike in front of The Shed.
In the 87th minute, Jarrod Carluccio’s effort narrowly missed David Williams, and the Glory defended resolutely in added time. Just before the final whistle, a counterattack led by Williams found debutant Joel Anasmo who calmly finished, securing a thrilling three points for the Glory.
The electrifying scenes, marked by the fans’ celebrations and a spirited team, highlight the renewed spirit under head coach Alen Stajcic. While some instances of sloppiness both in and out of possession can be criticised, the players’ commitment and entertaining performance ensured fans got their money’s worth.
In my view the best performers were Oli Sail, Adam Taggart, and David Williams. Sail’s goalkeeping prowess, Taggart’s relentless play, and Williams’ spark stood out.
Looking ahead, the team will be gearing up for an away trip to Adelaide United next Friday night, aiming to extend their three-game unbeaten run.
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