Every game for the Glory is April looks set to be do-or-die. Going into half-time 1-0 down to Macarthur at home, it felt like the sun was setting on our finals charge.
Never doubt the resilience and determination of a Ruben Zadkovich side. Controlling the game but trailing at the break, the response in the second half and the eventual result is a massive indication of the progress this team has made under his tutelage.
The bench he named against the Bulls was youthful, not a single outfield player over the age of 23. When called upon, the five who entered the game helped to turn the tide. Jacob Dowse was the man who made the key contribution, an absolute peach of a free kick curled to perfection onto the head of Mark Beevers to give us the lead and the all-important three points.
The ones who started played their part well. Jelacic continues to excite and dazzle, but it was Trent Ostler playing at right wing back who looked most dangerous. The power and accuracy he can get on a cross with little to no back lift is impressive, and his quick change of pace caused problems for Ivan Vujica. Remember, this is a player who tore his ACL twice. Keeping him fit is key, because his ceiling is very high if he can manage a good run of games.
Of course, it wasn’t all down to the young players. The experienced heads got us back into the game after struggling in the opening 45. Adam Taggart had a couple of great chances to open the scoring early on, one thanks to a brilliant through ball from Mustafa Amini and another from a Jelacic cross.
Ryan Williams also had a great chance from a low cross by Ostler. Both haven’t been as prolific as they would have liked. When it mattered though, they were the ones who combined to level the contest. Jelacic played it through to Williams on the wing, followed by a fantastic first time cross to the back post for Taggart to bury into the top left corner with a header almost on the goal line.
Looking ahead to the last four fixtures, we have to put away our chances early and not put ourselves in a position where we need to come back from behind. Last weekend was our most dominant performance of the season. 62 per cent possession, much better xG, most of the territory and won a lot more duels.
Macarthur had one shot on target for the match. The back five kept tight and ensured Cameron Cook was a spectator most of the night. We still couldn’t get a clean sheet, thanks to Lachlan Rose finding the net for the first time this year with a left foot shot on the edge of the box. Bodnar and Daryll Lachman gave him room to cut in on his left and made us pay right before the break.
It’s those little slip ups which have cost us the most. Some of the goals we have given away have been cheap and easily preventable. Victory and Sydney have got the ability to make us pay in the next two games if we let them have the opportunity.
I’m still a bit perplexed as to why Zadkovich doesn’t have more faith in the back four that he’s utilised late on in games. After Dowse and Ivanovic came on and we switched to that system, the play was better and both of the goals came in the space of 15 minutes from the change being made. From what I’ve seen it doesn’t seem to make a huge impact on us defensively, but it gives us more options up front to find the net which we’ve struggled with on away trips.
Despite the loss, Macarthur are still a slim chance of making the top six but it’s a steep hill to climb for interim Mile Sterjovski. On a bleak night for the visitors, Kearyn Baccus put in a good shift but was probably lucky not to receive a yellow over the course of the match. Mo Toure, Ulises Davila and Bachana Arabuli were all out and I have no doubt they would have made life a lot more difficult for us if they were on the pitch.
The run at Fortress Macedonia ended with a fifth win from the 10th and final game. A record of five wins, four draws and the solitary loss to Melbourne City has put us in a decent position at this point of the campaign. Sydney’s draw to Adelaide gives us the chance to go ahead of them with a win on the weekend ahead of our clash on the 16th. It’s the Victory at AAMI Park in what will be a hotly contested matchup. A true six-pointer, and the second hurdle to be cleared in the race for the finals.
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