Abdul Faisal bagged a brace and Nathanael Blair and David Williams also found the net as Glory secured a place in the 2024 Australia Cup Round of 32 with a thrilling 4-2 win over Brisbane Roar in Darwin.
View full match highlights HERE.
In what was new Head Coach David Zdrilic’s first competitive game in charge, the WA side dominated the early exchanges, only to find themselves hit by a sucker-punch when former Glory midfielder Keegan Jelacic put Roar in front on 17 minutes.
The effervescent David Williams had Glory level by the break, however and the skipper also played a key role in his side’s second goal early in the second half, firing in a shot which Corey Brown handled on the line.
Brown was duly sent off, Faisal converted the resulting penalty and four minutes later the 18-year-old grabbed his second and Glory’s third following a scintillating counter-attack.
Williams then turned provider for goal number four, curling in an inviting cross which substitute Blair slid home and although former Glory man Adam Zimarino did pull one back for the Queenslanders in stoppage-time, the men in purple were not to be denied.
Zdrilic was understandably thrilled with what he saw from his new-look squad.
“For me, it was very pleasing, the performance over the result,” he said, “because we’ve come in here trying to change the whole culture of the club on the back of a very different playing style and football philosophy.
“I think you saw tonight all of that come alive.
“There were so many good elements, including their ability to keep up that intensity after just three weeks of training.
“I thought it was wave after wave of pressure from us in the first 15 minutes or so and we had quite a lot of shots on goal.
“We conceded a goal against the run of play, but after a little patch, the boys were able to recover and score a very good equaliser before the break.
“Second half we came out and I thought we had some very good moments and after the sending off and being able to get in front, the good thing was we were able to go and get the third and the fourth.
“There are plenty of things we need to talk about and work on, but there were a lot of good signs and the main thing is that we put in a performance to show that we are a different side this year, that we have a different playing style.
“The players have embraced it and it was great to get the win off the back of that.”
On a typically hot and humid night in the Northern Territory, Glory came flying out of the blocks, Brandon O’Neill striking the bar with a free-kick inside the opening two minutes and Roar ‘keeper Macklin Freke forced to make three fine saves in quick succession to keep Williams at bay.
And yet somehow it was Brisbane who claimed the first goal of the night, Jelacic firing into the top corner from just inside the box.
Undaunted by that setback, Zdrilic’s side hit back shortly before the break, O’Neill’s deft chip sending Josh Risdon in behind and when he arrowed a low cross to the far post, Williams was on hand to tap home.
Glory began the second half as brightly as they had the first and were rewarded six minutes in when Brown used his arm to prevent Williams’ shot from crossing the line.
Referee Ben Abraham immediately pointed to the spot before giving Brown his marching orders and Faisal then slotted the penalty away via the foot of the post.
The ten men barely had time to recover before Glory struck again, this time Ngo driving a rapid breakaway and slipping the ball to Faisal whose emphatic finish gave Freke no chance.
Ten minutes later, 3-1 became 4-1, Blair showing his strength and predatory instinct to shrug off the attentions of his marker and poke Williams’ teasing cross into the net.
With nothing to lose, Brisbane threw caution to the wind late on and secured a reward of sorts in the form of Zimarino’s well-placed late strike.
But the night belonged to Glory who are now set to host Melbourne City at the Sam Kerr Football Centre on Saturday 3 August in what will be the club’s first Round of 32 appearance since 2019.
Match Details
2024 Australia Cup Play Off
Brisbane Roar 2 (Jelacic 17′, Zimarino 90+2′) Perth Glory 4 (Williams 38′, Faisal 52′ (pen), 55′, Blair 65′)
Half-time: 1-1
Darwin Football Stadium
Tuesday 23 July 2024
Referee: Ben Abraham
Brisbane Roar: 1.Macklin FREKE (gk), 3.Corey BROWN, 4.Ben WARLAND, 5.Marcus FERKRANUS, 6.Joe CALETTI (21.Alex PARSONS 64′), 16.Thomas WADDINGTON (19.Jack HINGERT 60′), 17.Harry Van DER SAAG (30.Quin MACNICOL 60′), 22.Antonee BURKE-GILROY (35.Louis ZABALA 64′), 23.Keegan JELACIC, 27.Ben HALLORAN (43.Adam ZIMARINO 64′)
Substitutes not used: 29.Matt ACTON, 10.Florin BERENGUER-BOHRER
Yellow Cards: Hingert, Van der Saag
Red Cards: Brown
Perth Glory: 1.Oli SAIL (gk), 4.Luke BODNAR, 5.Lachie BARR, 6.Brandon O’NEILL, 9.David WILLIAMS (c) (25.Jaylan PEARMAN 74′), 12.Taras GOMULKA (29.Jacob MUIR 84′), 17.Jarrod CARLUCCIO, 19.Josh RISDON, 21.Abdul FAISAL (14.Nathanael BLAIR 60′), 26.Khoa NGO (31.Royie RAHAMIM 84′), 28.Kaelan MAJEKODUNMI
Substitutes not used: 13.Cameron COOK (gk), 23.Laat MATHIANG, 27.Tadiwanashe KUZAMBA
Yellow Cards: O’Neill, Faisal
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
