Glory produced a spirited performance at Ironbark Fields on Saturday, but were unable to prevent in-form title challengers Western United from running out 3-1 winners.
Click HERE for full match highlights
Click HERE for David Zdrilic’s post-match media conference
Rhys Bozinovski gave the hosts an early lead before Jaylan Pearman restored parity with a superb strike ten minutes into the second half.
The game looked very much in the balance at that point, but a bizarre own-goal from the luckless Taras Gomulka gifted United the lead once more and Ramy Najjarine added a third on the break right at the death to rub salt into Glory’s wounds.
The win, their fifth on the trot, lifted Western to second in the table, while Glory’s search for a second away win of the campaign goes on.
The afternoon could hardly have got off to a worse start for David Zdrilic’s men as they fell behind with barely three minutes on the clock.
Angus Thurgate’s corner from the left eventually found Bozinovski and although his initial effort was superbly parried by Oli Sail, the midfielder reacted quickly to slam the rebound into the net.
Rather than crumble, however, Glory immediately looked to hit back and were denied an equaliser just five minutes later when Will Freney headed in Trent Ostler’s cross only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.
19-year-old Freney continued to be at the heart of his side’s best moments throughout the remainder of the first half, flashing a shot over the bar from the edge of the box and then going close to forcing home a cross supplied by Adam Taggart.
As half time approached, the hosts began to look dangerous once more, but Sail smothered bravely at the feet of Matt Grimaldi and was then equal to an attempted chip from Hiro Ibusuki.
It was Glory who emerged for the second half looking more purposeful and they immediately created an opportunity for Trent Ostler who drew a smart reaction save from Matt Sutton in the home goal.
There was nothing Sutton could do moments later, however, as Pearman collected possession in a pocket of space some 25m out, dummied his way past Dylan Leonard and then picked out the top corner with a sublime curler.
Clearly buoyed by that goal and roared on by an away bay packed with members of the Glory Shed Supporters Club on their annual Tour of Duty trip, Glory redoubled their efforts.
But they were destined to suffer a cruel blow in the 66th minute as United reclaimed their lead via an unfortunate own-goal.
Bozinovski’s cross from the right was inadvertently deflected towards his own goal by substitute Taras Gomulka and as Hiro Ibusuki tried to force the ball past Sail and Yuto Misao, it ended up somehow squeezing its way into the net.
Glory threw caution to the wind as they searched for a second leveller in the latter stages and were picked off four minutes from the end when substitute Michael Ruhs led a rapid counter-attack before squaring for Najjarine who applied a composed finish.
Match Details
Isuzu UTE A-League 2024-25 Season Round 25
Western United 3 (Bozinovski 3′, Gomulka (o.g.) 65′, Najjarine 86′) Perth Glory 1 (Pearman 55′)
Half-time: 1-0
Ironbark Fields
Saturday 5 April 2025
Referee: Shane Skinner
Western United squad: 33. Matt SUTTON (gk), 6. Tomoki IMAI, 9. Hiroshi IBUSUKI (24. Michael RUHS 78′), 10. Matthew GRIMALDI (7. Ramy NAJJARINE 78′), 13. Tate RUSSELL, 17. Ben GARUCCIO (c) (4. James DONACHIE 90+1′), 19. Noah BOTIC, 23. Rhys BOZINOVSKI, 30. Dylan LEONARD (29. Charbel SHAMOON, 90+1′), 32. Angus THURGATE, 77. Riku DANZAKI (37. Luke VICKERY 68′)
Substitutes not used: 44. Jordan LAUTON, 70. Michael VONJA (gk)
Yellow Cards: Bozinovski, Ruhs
Red Cards: None
Perth Glory: 1.Oli SAIL (gk), 4.Tass MOURDOUKOUTAS, 7.Nicholas PENNINGTON, 10.Nikola MILEUSNIC (16.Adam BUGARIJA 71′), 17.Yuto MISAO, 20.Trent OSTLER (26.Khoa NGO 88′), 21.Luke AMOS (12.Taras GOMULKA 64′), 22.Adam TAGGART, 25.Jaylan PEARMAN (23.Patrick WOOD 88′), 27.Will FRENEY (19.Josh RISDON 46′), 29.Tomi MRCELA
Substitutes not used: 13.Cameron COOK (gk), 28.Kaelan MAJEKODUNMI
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
