Goals in each half from Zinedine Machache and Adama Traore consigned Glory to a 2-0 defeat against Melbourne Victory in Sunday’s Isuzu UTE A-League Round 7 clash at AAMI Park.
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The French midfielder swept the hosts into the lead after seven minutes with a fine finish before Traore added number two just shy of the hour-mark, latching on to a through-ball from Nikolaos Vergos and clipping a low shot past Cameron Cook.
Glory’s better chances arrived in the second half, with Josh Risdon and substitute Nathanael Blair sending in efforts from range, but Victory also continued to look threatening and struck the woodwork late on through Jing Reec.
On a mild afternoon in Melbourne, Glory soon found themselves trailing as Machach, who was to prove a thorn in their side all game, surged to the edge of the box and drilled a shot into the bottom corner.
Cook then pulled off a fine save to keep Brendan Hamill at bay following a cleverly-worked free-kick, before a deflected strike from Daniel Arzani struck the foot of the post shortly before the break.
Glory looked more purposeful at the start of the second half, but just as they threatened to regain a foothold in the game, Victory struck again.
This time Vergos was the architect, supplying a defence-splitting pass which Traore raced on to before calmly finding the net.
Glory’s response came in the form of two long-range efforts from Risdon and Blair which were comfortably dealt with by Jack Duncan.
The hosts, however, maintained a sharp attacking edge throughout and Jing Reec came close to making it 3-0 with ten minutes left when his angled shot was pushed onto the bar by Cook.
Glory remain in 12th place on the ladder following the result, while Victory climbed to second.
Match Details
Isuzu UTE A-League 2024/25 Season Matchday 7
Melbourne Victory 2 (Machach 7′, Traore 59′) Perth Glory 0
Half-time: 1-0
AAMI Park
Sunday 8 December 2024
Referee: Shane Skinner
Melbourne Victory: 25. Jack DUNCAN (gk), 2. Jason GERIA, 3. Adama TRAORE (22. Joshua RAWLINS 86′), 5. Brendan HAMILL, 6. Ryan TEAGUE, 7. Daniel ARZANI (27. Reno PISCOPO 77′), 8. Zinedine MACHACH (18. Fabian MONGE 86′), 9. Nikolaos VERGOS (19. Jing REEC 76′), 11. Clerismario SANTOS RODRIGUES (10. Bruno FORNAROLI 76′), 14. Jordi VALADON, 21. Roderick MIRANDA
Substitutes not used: 16. Joshua INSERRA, 30. Daniel GRASKOSKI
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Perth Glory: 13.Cameron COOK (gk), 2.Riley WARLAND (15.Zach LISOLAJSKI 90+1′), 5.Lachlan BARR, 7.Nicholas PENNINGTON (6.Brandon O’NEILL 84′), 9.David WILLIAMS, 12.Taras GOMULKA, 16.Adam BUGARIJA (v 90+1′), 17.Jarrod CARLUCCIO (9.David WILLIAMS 57′), 19.Josh RISDON, 22.Adam TAGGART (c), 26.Khoa NGO (14.Nathanael BLAIR 57′), 33.Luis CANGA
Substitutes not used: 1.Oli SAIL (gk), 21.Abdul FAISAL
Yellow Cards: Risdon, Canga, Carluccio
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
