Trent Ostler’s third career A-League goal was not enough to prevent Western United from claiming the Unite Round honours as the Victorians ran out 3-1 winners in Sydney.
View full match highlights HERE
View David Zdrilic’s post-match media conference HERE
The 20-year-old capped off a sweeping Glory move featuring Khoa Ngo, Adam Bugarija and Adam Taggart to put David Zdrilic’s side ahead early in the second half at Allianz Stadium.
But Dylan Leonard soon had United level and Hiroshi Ibusuki took his personal tally against Glory to seven in seven games as he helped himself to a brace to seal the points.
Leonard’s challenge on Cristian Caicedo saw him red carded in the final minute of normal time, but by then it was far too late for Glory to take advantage.
It was the nominal away side who carved out the better chances in the first half, notably when Noah Botic drew a reflex save from the recalled Cameron Cook and then headed the loose ball against the bar.
Cook also went full length to tip a Ben Garuccio shot around the post and Ibusuki headed wastefully wide from right in front shortly before the break.
Glory also had their moments going forward, however and having started the second half on the front foot, they snatched the lead in fine style.
Ngo surged upfield before finding Bugarija, the half-time substitute then played a delightful ball into the path of Taggart and he crossed to the far post where Ostler gleefully forced the ball home despite the best of efforts of United ‘keeper Matt Sutton.
Glory’s lead was to prove short-lived, however, as the defence was unable to clear a corner and Leonard reacted quickest to find the net.
Western then hit the front as Botic cut the ball back for Ibusuki who applied a clinical finish and the former Adelaide United striker effectively made the game safe 15 minutes from time when he cut inside from the right and thumped a shot past Cook.
Glory battled hard to claim a late consolation, but although United were reduced to ten men when Leonard upended Caicedo on the edge of the box, the men in purple could not find a way through.
Match Details
Isuzu UTE A-League 2024/25 Season Matchday 5
Unite Round
Perth Glory 1 (Ostler 53′) Western United 3 (Leonard 60′. Ibusuki 65′, 76′)
Half-time: 0-0
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Friday 22 November 2024
Referee: Alireza Faghani
Perth Glory: 13.Cameron COOK (gk), 3.Anas HAMZAOUI (15.Zach LISOLAJSKI 87′), 5.Lachlan BARR, 7.Nicholas PENNINGTON, 11.Hiroaki AOYAMA (16.Adam BUGARIJA 46′), 12.Taras GOMULKA (6.Brandon O’NEILL 84′), 19.Josh RISDON (23.Cristian CAICEDO 84′), 20.Trent OSTLER, 22.Adam TAGGART (c), 26.Khoa NGO (21.Abdul FAISAL 63′), 33.Luis CANGA
Substitutes not used: 1.Oli SAIL (gk), 9.David WILLIAMS
Yellow Cards: Risdon
Red Cards: None
Western United: 33. Matthew SUTTON (gk), 9. Hiroshi IBUSUKI, 10. Matthew GRIMALDI (20. Abel WALATEE 77′), 13. Tate RUSSELL (29. Charbel SHAMOON 77′), 17. Ben GARUCCIO, 19. Noah BOTIC (14. Jake NAJDOVSKI 82′), 21. Sebastian PASQUALI (23. Rhys BOZINOVSKI 43′), 22. Kane VIDMAR, 30. Dylan LEONARD, 32. Angus THURGATE, 77. Riku DANZAKI (7. Ramy NAJJARINE, 82′)
Substitutes not used: 1.Thomas HEWARD-BELLEE (gk), 24. Michael RUHS
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: Leonard
#ONEGlory
