Our short stay in Launceston has come to an end, and unfortunately that end came in the form of a second defeat running.
Before we get to that, the big news of the week was the official confirmation of three home matches against Adelaide United, Central Coast Mariners and Brisbane Roar.
I, much like most Glory fans, cannot wait for Sunday afternoon. It’s going to be great to see live football again in what I’m hoping will be an electric atmosphere.
These fixtures at HBF Park come at a perfect time for the Glory. We haven’t got many games left in hand on the rest of the competition and we need to make them count.
It’s a shame we couldn’t get more out of our stay in Tasmania. One win and two losses to go along with the injury to Daniel Sturridge.
Given we’re the specialists for 1-0 defeats and Western United are the kings of 1-0 wins, I’m surprised this was the first game we’ve conceded multiple goals in.
I was bemused by Richard Garcia’s team selection for the match on Sunday, opting to start with a front three of Bruno Fornaroli, Antonee Burke-Gilroy, and Jack Clisby.
There was no Andy Keogh and Pacifique Niyongabire in the matchday squad, but Richie has since confirmed both are dealing with minor injuries. They will both miss the City clash on Wednesday.
Without some of our best forwards available, it was again a story of not being able to create scoring opportunities for ourselves.
Our ball movement was way too slow throughout the game. There was a lot of side to side passing, but the speed we did it in made it very easy for Western United to get to the ball carrier and prevent them from getting the ball into the box.
They were more than happy to defend behind the ball and let us have most of the possession, using their pace on the counter when they did have the ball.
Kosuke Ota had a torrid time dealing with speedster Dylan Pierias. Twice in the first half Pierias got beyond him and tested Liam Reddy from close range but was unable to get it past the veteran keeper.
The breakthrough came courtesy of Aleksander Prijovic. Nicolai Topor-Stanley carried the ball from the halfway line, ended up with it in the box after some pinball action, got it to Prijovic who had enough time and space to pick out the corner.
Going back to our ball movement, our best chance in the first half came when we moved it quickly. We won the ball in midfield, two quick passes got it to Fornaroli who had a 1v1 with a defender and he couldn’t quite get it past Jamie Young.
It was more of the same in the second half. This time we gave away the second goal which allowed Western United some breathing room. The defending leading up to it was very poor, one of the worst goals we’ve conceded this season.
Neil Kilkenny had possession in his own half and was given plenty of time and space on the ball. Ben Garuccio made a good forward run from left back which wasn’t tracked. He squared it across quickly to Pierias, who got in behind Ota again and had a tap in.
The subs came on shortly after we conceded and that is when most of our better play in the second half started to happen. I felt like it was Daniel Stynes’ inclusion which made the most difference again.
He had a few long-range efforts which didn’t trouble Young, but I liked the intent. It was his play which led to our best chance of the game.
He clipped a ball into the box for Ciaran Bramwell, who held the ball quite nicely. He fizzed a low ball into the area straight to Adam Zimarino, striking it first time with pace but straight at the keeper who made the save.
Western United returned to the top of the ladder with that win.Dylan Pierias has been good this season and deserved his first goal of the campaign, and Lachie Wales was good on the other flank. Jamie Young was again rock solid between the sticks.
We have one more game to go before the big homecoming. Melbourne City away is one of the most daunting fixtures of the season, but we’ve had success against them in the past. It’s a great chance to make a statement against the reigning champions, who are the favourites to win it again this season.
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