Late-night games at HBF Park always deliver and while it was a new era with the game marking the first of the Ross Pelligra era, it certainly had a familiar feel.
The Perth Glory ran out as 3-2 winners over former Head Coach Ruben Zadkovich’s Brisbane Roar in front of a season-best crowd, with goals from Adam Taggart and Stefan Colakovski securing the win for Alen Stajcic’s side.
Notably, there were a few changes from the side that drew 3-3 to Adelaide last week, with Jacob Muir moving into midfield and David Williams finally getting a start up top with Adam Taggart.
The start of the game ebbed and flowed between the two sides in terms of control, but Zadkovich’s side took control of the game, mostly through Jay O’Shea and Joe Caletti.
Yet it was the Glory who opened the scoring, as Daniel Bennie did really well to read the delivery from Riley Warland to head the ball across goal to which Adam Taggart headed home from close range.
The perfect start to the new era, courtesy of a very familiar source of goals in the Glory skipper.
But unfortunately, the Glory’s Achilles heel in their defensive organisation struck again just five minutes later as Nikola Mileusnić equalised for the Roar.
Mileusnić brought down the cross from Antonee Burke-Gilroy really well, and with his back to goal, he managed to swivel and lash home a ferocious strike from close range giving Oli Sail no chance in goal.
Five minutes after the equaliser and the Roar found the breakthrough courtesy of Thomas Waddingham, where after some pinballing action in the Glory’s box, the young forward was able to force the ball home from close range.
The Glory ended that half a little lacklustre and seemed to lack the level of penetration needed to really ask questions of the Brisbane defenders.
Fast forward to after the interval, and it was pretty clear that the Roar looked to park the bus and look to manage the game from there.
The second half was much better in terms of intensity and drive from the Glory as they really put the pressure on the Roar.
Daniel Bennie had a great chance to equalise for the Glory only for Macklin Freke to pull off a very solid save, but there was a feeling that the Glory were beginning to pile the pressure on the Roar.
Then, come the 73rd minute, Glory were level courtesy of Adam Taggart, though a lot of credit has to go to young gun Joel Anasmo.
His driving run caused chaos within the Brisbane defence as he glided through multiple players. Anaasmo’s shot was deflected but it fell kindly to Taggart who managed to angle his shot just inside the post and it was game on.
Stefan Colakovski scored the winner and it just had to be him. A misplaced pass from James Nikolovski was read by Daniel Bennie who got in front and managed to slide the ball to the advantage of Colakovski, who fired home from close range.
While it wasn’t Glory’s best performance, it displayed quite clearly some of the key characteristics this team has displayed throughout the season, notably the fight and resilience to never give in.
There’s no doubt the fans appreciated the efforts of the players as well. It’s been a very long time since I last heard the crowd at HBF Park fully behind the players and driving them on.
The one that stood out the most was late in the game when the players were launching a high press led by Adam Taggart and the crowd roared once the ball was forced out of play.
It’s these small things that can really propel the team forward and no doubt the crowd played a massive part in the team getting the win.
So like I said before, this is a new era under Ross Pelligra and there was a buzz at the game that hasn’t been there in some time.
Hopefully, that result is a sign of better things to come, as fans have been waiting for some time now for the team to get back to the levels it once had back in the old NSL.
Looking forward to next week and it’s a big one, another test at home to the league leaders Wellington.
It’ll be an even more difficult challenge than the Roar, but if the players want to get back into the finals the equation is simple – this is a must-win.
Every home game in particular will be akin to a final, so hopefully the players can put in a huge performance to have another step forward towards getting back in the finals race.
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