Glory’s unbeaten record at Macedonia Park came to an end on Saturday evening as the controversial second-half dismissal of Darryl Lachman paved the way for Melbourne City to run out 4-2 winners.
View full match highlights HERE.
Ruben Zadkovich’s side refused to take a backward step against the league leaders and after Jack Clisby’s free-kick cancelled out Jordan Bos’ stunning opener for the visitors, the game was finely poised heading into the final 30 minutes.
Lachman’s challenge on Matthew Leckie was then adjudged worthy of both a penalty and a red card by referee Daniel Elder, swinging the momentum dramatically in City’s favour.
Valon Berisha duly converted from the spot and although Glory showed great spirit to equalise again through David Williams’ header, late goals from Leckie and substitute Florin Berenguer ultimately sealed the deal for the Victorians.
Zadkovich was understandably proud of the way his side took the game to the reigning Premiers, roared on by another sell-out home crowd.
View his full post-match media conference HERE.
“It was disappointing to lose,” he said.
“I thought we were excellent in patches tonight and went toe-to-toe with the best team in the comp.
“We played some really good stuff and the game was 1-1 at the moment that we lost a player [Lachman] and it turned into a bit of a chaotic game towards the end.
“But up until that 60-minute-mark when we lost Darryl, I thought we were very, very good for a result of some sort; probably the win.
“We were great without the ball at times and I thought with the ball, there were some very nice passages and it’s just disappointing to get nothing for it.”
After starting brightly, Glory were stung in the 16th minute by a wonder-goal from Bos who showed neat footwork to fashion a shooting opportunity from the corner of the box and curled a sublime shot into the top corner.
That lead was short-lived, however, as moments after David Williams had headed against the post, Clisby swung in a left-footed free-kick from wide out on the right and it flashed its way through a crowded box into the net.
Glory were then awarded and subsequently denied a penalty after Jordan Elsey was brought down by Thomas Glover only for VAR to rule that the defender had strayed offside in the build-up to the incident.
The pace of the game never let up as Lachman headed a Nuno Reis header off the line and on the stroke of half-time, Richard van der Venne struck the bar after pouncing on a loose pass out from Cameron Cook.
The first significant action of the second half was Lachman’s dismissal, followed by Berisha’s successful penalty to make it 2-1 and yet Glory still managed to draw level 18 minutes from time.
The lively Keegan Jelacic delivered a pinpoint cross from the left and David Williams climbed above his marker to head in his fifth goal of the season.
Within three minutes, however, a spectacular bicycle kick from Leckie restored City’s lead for a third time and they eventually made the game safe in stoppage-time when Leckie turned provider for Berenguer who calmly slid the ball past Cook.
Match Details
ISUZU UTE A-League Round 16
Perth Glory 2 (Clisby 25′, David Williams 72′) Melbourne City 4 (Bos 16′, Berisha (pen) 62′, Leckie 76′, Berenguer 90+2′)
Half-time: 1-1
Macedonia Park
Saturday 11 February 2023
Referee: Daniel Elder
Perth Glory: 13.Cameron COOK (gk), 4.Luke BODNAR (19.Zach DUNCAN 46′), 5.Mark BEEVERS, 7.Ryan WILLIAMS, 8.Mustafa AMINI (c) (28.Trent OSTLER 85′), 14.Jack CLISBY (3.Jacob DOWSE 77′), 15.Jordan ELSEY, 16.Keegan JELACIC, 18.David WILLIAMS (22.Adam TAGGART 77′), 21.Antonee BURKE-GILROY (2.John KOUTROUMBIS 46′), 29.Darryl LACHMAN
Substitutes not used: 30.Pierce CLARK (gk), 43.Adam ZIMARINO
Yellow Cards: Ryan Williams, Amini, Koutroumbis
Red Cards: Lachman
Melbourne City: 1. Tom GLOVER (GK), 3. Scott JAMIESON (C) (25. Callum TALBOT 80′), 4. Nuno REIS, 6. Thomas LAM, 7. Mathew LECKIE, 8. Richard VAN DER VENNE, 9. Jamie MACLAREN, 13. Aiden O’NEILL, 14. Valon BERISHA (10. Florin BERENGUER 70′), 15. Andrew NABBOUT (23. Marco TILIO, 70′), 38. Jordan BOS.
Substitutes not used: 2. Scott GALLOWAY, 18. Jordon HALL, 33. Matthew SUTTON (GK), 35. Raphael BORGES RODRIGUES
Yellow Cards: Reis, Lam
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
