A win can mean so much more than three points added to the league table. Last weekend against Western Sydney was one of those wins.
This week there was confirmation of the departure of Salim Khelifi on loan to Melbourne Victory, as a result of the ongoing financial woes since the club went into receivership.
Aaron McEneff has also departed on loan, heading back home to Ireland with Shamrock Rovers.
This on top of Oli Bozanic’s loan deal finishing up, Joseph Forde joining McEneff in Ireland and potentially Jarrod Carluccio leaving at the end of his loan deal on January 31, unless an extension can be agreed upon.
The loss of Khelifi was made worse when it was revealed the APL had instructed Glory to accept the offer, against the wishes of the club.
It’s been tough for everyone involved with the Glory, watching many players go and knowing there won’t be any additions to the squad in the current transfer window.
Results haven’t gone their way, but the remaining players and coaching staff haven’t lost their belief. The work ethic hasn’t dipped and their efforts were finally rewarded thanks to goals from Stefan Colakovski and David Williams.
Colakovski, Bruce Kamau, and Darryl Lachman were brought back into the starting line up as Alen Stajcic made four adjustments from the side who went down 4-3 to Wellington.
The fourth switch, and the biggest surprise, was the keeper as Oli Sail made his first appearance since Round 2 back in October.
The Wanderers dominated the first 20 minutes, comfortably holding the ball and coming close to taking the lead.
Marcus Antonsson had a chance in the opening minute thanks to a mixup between Aleksandar Susnjar and Riley Warland, fortunately miscuing his shot badly.
Dylan Pierias had the better of Warland in the early stages, beating him for pace out wide before his cross into the middle was clawed away by Sail.
Corners have been a strong point for the Wanderers this year, and if not for Warland’s clearance they would have added another goal to their tally from Marcelo.
Once the Glory settled in they were able to create some chances of their own. Adam Taggart was denied from close range after a lovely through ball from Mustafa Amini and a well-weighted pass from Daniel Bennie.
Taggart had a shot blocked on the line; this time Marcelo was doing the defending after the striker had gotten his shot past Daniel Margush.
The breakthrough came from a similar scenario to Taggart’s first chance. A header away fell to Kamau, who played it through to Taggart out wide. His first-time pass was met in stride by Colakovski, who took it confidently and struck it sweetly past Margush for goal number five of the season.
The second half continued in the same fashion as the back end of the first, with Western Sydney having most of the possession but not creating chances with it.
The defensive performance was a big improvement on weeks past. Lachman and Susnjar complemented each other as a pairing, with both having solid performances.
Lachman had the most blocks with three and Susnjar dominated aerially, making eight headed clearances, keeping the Wanderers at bay from set pieces, which was their best route to goal and where they eventually found one from.
When we did have the ball, we were able to create more with it. Johnny Koutroumbis had a powerful shot saved at the near post and Williams put the ball in the net but Taggart was offside in the build-up.
The sealer had to wait until the final moments of regular time. Luke Ivanovic had a low driven effort saved by Margush, and then minutes later the crucial second was scored.
Taggart’s neat lay off to Colli opened the field up. The midfielder played it through to Williams all on his own. The experienced striker cut back onto his left foot and found the net with a composed finish.
It should have been three in injury time when Ivanovic burst through to create a 3-on-1, but the chance went begging.
As a clean sheet edged closer, a late corner was headed by Marcelo onto the post. Unfortunately for Sail, it came back off of him and into the net for an own goal. An unlucky way to concede in what was a decent showing from our no. 1 in his first game for three months.
Goalies steal the show
Two of the ALW’s form keepers matched up at Macedonia Park last Saturday night, and neither could be beaten in a nil all draw between the Glory and the Roar.
Alex Epakis’ side remains in a form slump, as the goals have dried up and opposing teams have been able to get on top of them. The shot count was overwhelmingly in favour of the visitors, 26 to 8 for the night.
Brisbane had a golden opportunity to get ahead right on half time after Tash Rigby’s handball in the box. Ayesha Norrie stepped up for the penalty and had it saved by Morgan Aquino.
Millie Farrow had the Glory’s best chances in the second half, getting in ahead of Jordan Silkowitz to a long pass from Georgia Cassidy. The English striker took it round the keeper but was denied from a tight angle by the sliding challenge of Holly McQueen.
Another long ball in behind found Farrow just minutes later, who took it on her left but struck it straight at Silkowitz.
The result leaves Glory in fourth currently, equal on points with Sydney and one behind Western United but with a game in hand.
The wrap up
After 15 months and 18 matches, the much talked about dry spell on the road has ended. A much-needed victory to take us further away from the bottom and closer to the rest of the pack.
There’s still a gap to chase down, one which would be cut down to seven with another win on the weekend.
Both sides are on the road, as the women take on Adelaide on Saturday and the men head to Campbelltown for a clash with the Bulls.
The last match against Macarthur brought much joy in the form of a second half comeback and memorable victory.
Ulises Davila has been looking in red hot form in recent weeks, netting a hattrick against Western United and getting a goal in their 3-1 win against the Roar.
It’s the final leg of this three-game spell over east, and an opportunity to return back to HBF Park next Friday with added confidence and momentum as we begin the second half of the season.
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