A second-half goal from David Williams proved enough to secure Glory’s first win of the Isuzu UTE A-League season as David Zdrilic’s side deservedly downed Brisbane Roar 1-0 at Suncorp Stadium.
Watch full match highlights HERE
Watch David Zdrilic’s post-match media conference HERE
After a low-key first-half, the decisive moment arrived midway through the second when Josh Risdon stood up a cross from the right and Williams fired home via the thigh of despairing defender Lucas Herrington.
The home side predictably came on strong in their search for a late equaliser, but Glory remained composed and disciplined in their defensive work to hold them at bay and lock down three precious points.
Williams’ well-taken goal took his A-League career tally to 51, while 19-year-old midfielder Will Freney made his senior debut as a late substitute and Perth youngster Andriano Lebib marked his recall to the side by producing a hugely-impressive display at the heart of the defence.
On a typically warm and humid Queensland afternoon, both sides largely cancelled each other out during a first-half which was hard-fought but light on in terms of goalmouth action.
Former Glory midfielder Keegan Jelacic came closest to breaking the deadlock with a 30th-minute strike from outside the box which rattled Cameron Cook’s crossbar and yet overall, it was the visitors who just about shaded the opening period.
Abdul Faisal sent a low shot fizzing across the face of goal having been teed up by the influential Nicholas Pennington, Adam Bugarija had a couple of half-chances and Williams saw an acrobatic overhead kick comfortably gathered by Macklin Freke in the Roar goal in the shadows of half-time.
Roar’s best spell of the game arrived immediately after the break, with both Jay O’Shea and Adam Zimarino wasting decent chances, but Glory soon forced their way back into it and moments after a powerful header from Nicholas Pennington had drawn an excellent save from Freke, the men in lilac finally broke the deadlock.
Risdon got away down the right before delivering an inviting cross to the back post for Williams whose firm volley already looked destined for the net before the luckless Herrington deflected it over the line.
The final ten minutes were predictably frenetic as an increasingly desperate Roar side poured forward, but other than a shot from O’Shea which Cook parried over the bar, they rarely looked like denying Glory a hugely significant and morale-boosting victory.
Match Details
Isuzu UTE A-League 2024/25 Season Round 9
Brisbane Roar 0 Perth Glory 1 (Williams 70′)
Half-time: 0-0
Suncorp Stadium
Saturday 21 December 2024
Referee: Nathan Shakespear
Brisbane Roar: 1. Macklin FREKE (gk), 4. Ben WARLAND (15.Hosine BILITY 33′), 8. Walid SHOUR, 10. Florin BERENGUER (18. Jacob BRAZETE 67′), 12. Lucas HERRINGTON, 16. Thomas WADDINGHAM, 17. Harry VAN DER SAAG (19. Jack HINGERT 67′), 21. Antonee BURKE-GILROY, 23. Keegan JELACIC (11.Neicer ACOSTA 85′), 26. Jay O’SHEA (c), 43. Adam ZIMARINO (30. Quinn MACNICOL 67′)
Substitutes not used: 29. Matt ACTON (gk), 35. Louis ZABALA
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Perth Glory: 13.Cameron COOK (gk), 2.Riley WARLAND (31.Joel ANASMO 80′), 7.Nicholas PENNINGTON, 9.David WILLIAMS (c) (27.Will FRENEY 90+4′), 12.Taras GOMULKA, 16.Adam BUGARIJA (17.Jarrod CARLUCCIO 63′), 19.Josh RISDON, 20.Trent OSTLER (14.Nathanael BLAIR 63′), 21.Abdul FAISAL (26.Khoa NGO 63′), 24.Andriano LEBIB, 29.Tomi MRCELA
Substitutes not used: 1.Oli SAIL (gk), 5.Lachlan BARR
Yellow Cards: Faisal, Carluccio
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
