While Alen Stajcic is steadily making progress on the pitch, a new debacle is threatening to derail the hype train.
Just when it seemed the club had turned a corner with the confirmation of new owners in the form of the Prime Land consortium, receivers KordaMentha announced the group had failed to meet certain conditions required for the sale to go through.
We’re now returned to square one, in the same boat as four months ago when Tony Sage handed back the licence to the APL.
It’s another chapter in the incredible tale of the Glory, where it seems not a year goes by without some form of controversy or any kind of drama.
As the APL and KordaMentha start renegotiating with interested parties, the manager has the task of keeping the on-field operation running smoothly.
So far, he has done a very good job of it. Watching back the last game, the Wanderers are a quality side and we didn’t make it easy for them.
Due to their loan agreement with the Wanderers, Oli Bozanic and Jarrod Carluccio didn’t play and on top of that, Adam Taggart was a late out through injury.
David Williams started up top with Daniel Bennie, Bruce Kamau got the nod out wide and Jacob Muir slotted into midfield with Giordano Colli.
The most noticeable difference in the contest was the quality of the midfielders and their involvement in the build-up.
Glory often bypassed the two midfield options and went for long balls over the top for Bennie and Williams to run onto, which did work on a few occasions.
Western Sydney were much slicker with their passing and movement, with the duo of Josh Brillante and Jorrit Hendrix leading the charge thanks to their distribution.
There were often times when the Glory defence was caught on the ball with no option but to go sideways or back to the keeper.
Darryl Lachman nearly gave up a goal when he was pinched of possession by Marcus Antonsson, but luckily the Swede didn’t make him pay for it.
The two goals scored by Marko Rudan’s side came from their full backs getting high up the pitch, catching out their direct opponent.
Five minutes into the second half, Brillante lofted a ball into the path of Jack Clisby. Managing to get beyond Bennie, the former Glory defender rifled a shot past Cameron Cook at his near post.
Less than 10 minutes after going down, the lead was doubled when Clisby got involved once again. His cross was headed high by Lachman, dropping down toward Khelifi when Tate Russell beat him to it and volleyed past Cook with aplomb.
The right back eventually made him pay after failing to put away a few chances in the first half. He had the third most shots of the game behind Williams and Nicolas Milanovic, getting the better of the Tunisian in their matchup.
Taggart’s late withdrawal was a blow to the attack, losing not only losing a great goal scorer but a player who is very good with the ball at his feet. Williams did a good job in his absence but once again as a whole, the frontline hasn’t been clinical enough this season.
Kamau had the first big chance of the game in the opening minutes, played through by Bennie but he failed to convert from a tight angle.
A hamstring injury for the winger saw him replaced by Stef Colakovski, who also had a good chance in the first half resulting from a great pass by Williams and a cutback from Johnny Koutroumbis. Unfortunately his shot was mistimed and cleared away easily.
Williams hit the post in the first half from just outside the box and placed a shot narrowly wide in the second from another cutback by Koutroumbis.
Colakovski had a close-range header saved smartly by Lawrence Thomas and Bennie missed a last-minute chance for a consolation goal and his first in the A-League.
ALW Recap and Final Wrap
The good times for the Glory women continue to roll on, still at the top of the pile following a last gasp draw with the Victory on Saturday night.
Hana Lowry’s free kick opened the scoring and looked to have set the scene for a fifth win in a row until a brace from Rachel Lowe put Alex Epakis’ side on the brink of their first defeat.
Up step Lowry again, the 20-year-old bagging her second in the 96th and final minute of the game at Macedonia Park.
This is the second game running the Glory have scored in the last 10 minutes to get a result, with Susan Phonsongkham securing a 2-1 win over Adelaide the week prior in the 86th minute.
Captain Tash Rigby celebrated her 100th game against the Victory, becoming the third player to reach the milestone for the club.
In other good news, fellow youngsters Georgia Cassidy and Grace Johnston have been rewarded for their good starts to the campaign with spots in the Young Matildas squad.
Both sides are set for action this weekend. The women travel across the ditch to face the third placed Phoenix in what will be their toughest matchup yet.
The men’s team are in Queensland for a clash with the rejuvenated Roar, currently in sixth after beating the Mariners in their previous fixture.
The three men who missed out at CommBank Stadium should all be back for this Sunday, while the wait is still ongoing for Mustafa Amini and his return.
Two new look sides with new managers trying to make their mark on the competition. Should make for some interesting viewing on the weekend.
About the Author
