Jaiden Kucharski struck twice after coming off the bench as Glory came from behind to secure a spectacular 2-1 win over reigning Premiers Auckland FC who had topped the table heading into Saturday’s Round 15 clash at HBF Park.
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A well-taken individual goal from Jesse Randall had given the visitors the lead just before the break, but attacking the Shed with the wind behind them in the second half, Glory were a different proposition altogether.
Kucharski grabbed his first with a neat dinked finish in the 75th minute and then as the clock ticked into stoppage-time, he met a neat cutback from fellow-substitute Stefan Colakovski with a stunning first-time strike which rocketed into the top corner.
The win, their sixth of the season, lifts Adam Griffiths’ side to within two points of the top six ahead of Friday’s trip to Macarthur FC.
The hot conditions possibly contributed to a largely uneventful first half in which clear-cut chances were very much at a premium.
Glory’s best efforts both came from Scott Wootton, with the defender twice climbing highest to meet balls played in by Sam Sutton, but seeing one header go over the bar and the other comfortably saved by Oli Sail on his return to his former club.
Half-chances then fell the way of Rhys Bozinovski and Adam Taggart, while Auckland’s main threat appeared to come from set-pieces.
But just as the game looked set to meander its way into the break, the visitors broke the deadlock.
There did not look to be much on when the New Zealand international picked up possession close to the box, but with a clever touch and a great turn of pace he drove closer to goal and then arrow a low shot into the bottom corner.
With the strong breeze behind them, Glory took a more direct approach in the second half and soon started to look more threatening as Tom Lawrence and Adam Taggart both went close.
An unfortunate knee injury to former Glory ‘keeper Oli Sail then caused a lengthy delay, but once play resumed, the home side immediately piled on the pressure once more and this time were rewarded with a goal.
Scott Wootton’s long pass over the top caught the Auckland defence flat-footed and after cushioning the ball superbly with his first touch, Kucharski lobbed substitute goalkeeper Michael Woud with his second.
Although Logan Rogerson did subsequently miss a great chance to restore his side’s lead with a close-range header, it was Glory who generally remained in the ascendancy as the shadows of full-time lengthened and they were not to be denied the victory.
This time Colakovski was the architect, making inroads down the left before sending the ball across the top of the box for the onrushing Kucharski whose pinpoint finish sent the home faithful into raptures.
Match Details
Isuzu UTE A-League 2025/26 Season Round 15
Perth Glory 2 (Kucharski 75′, 90′) Auckland FC 1 (Randall 42′)
Half-time: 0-1
HBF Park
Saturday 31 January 2026
Referee: Shaun Evans
Attendance: 7528
Perth Glory: 29.Matt SUTTON (gk), 2.Charbel SHAMOON, 3.Sam SUTTON, 4.Scott WOOTTON, 7.Nicholas PENNINGTON (9.Jaiden KUCHARSKI 59′), 18.Rhys BOZINOVSKI (39. Giovanni DE ABREU 59′), 20.Trent OSTLER (67.Stefan COLAKOVSKI 46′), 22.Adam TAGGART (c) (15.Zach LISOLAJSKI 90+7′), 27.Will FRENEY, 34.Tom LAWRENCE, 45.Brian KALTAK
Substitutes not used: 11.Lachie WALES, 25.Sebastian DESPOTOVSKI, 40.Ryan WARNER (gk)
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Auckland FC: 20. Oli SAIL (gk) (1. Michael WOUD (gk), 69′), 2. Hiroki SAKAI, 4. Nando PIJNAKER (3. Jake GIRDWOOD-REICH 27′), 6. Louis VERSTRAETE, 8. Felipe GALLEGOS (7. Cameron HOWIESON 85′), 9. Sam COSGROVE, 10. Guillermo MAY (27. Logan ROGERSON 69′), 15. Francis DE VRIES, 21. Jesse RANDALL (35. Jonty BIDOIS 88′), 23. Dan HALL, 77. LACHLAN Brook
Substitutes not used: 17. Callan ELLIOT, 22. Jake BRIMMER
Yellow Cards: De Vries
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
ALM Match Wrap: Kucharski double steers Glory to superb comeback win over reigning Premiers
