Skipper Adam Taggart and debutant Lachie Wales both found the net as Glory twice came from behind to secure a battling 2-2 draw with Newcastle Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium.
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Eli Adams fired the hosts into an early lead, before Taggart marked his 100th A-League appearance in purple by levelling things up from the penalty spot shortly before the break.
When Clayton Taylor’s neat finish made it 2-1 to Newcastle with 12 minutes left, Glory looked to be up against it, but they lifted themselves again and secured a share of the spoils courtesy of Wales who found the net from close-range after fine approach work from fellow-substitute Joel Anasmo.
In a bid to secure the club’s first win at McDonald Jones Stadium since 2018, Glory Head Coach David Zdrilic handed starting debuts to Tass Mourdoukoutas and Patrick Wood, while fellow-new recruits Wales and Yuto Misao were named on the bench.
But the visitors made a tentative start and were punished for that 11 minutes in when Adams was picked out by Will Dobson on the edge of the box and placed a low shot past Oli Sail.
Possibly still reeling from that early setback, Glory were fortunate not to fall further behind as Adams struck the post and then the crossbar in quick succession.
But the visitors had maintained a threat on the break even while under pressure and were provided with a route back into the contest when Daniel Wilmering was adjudged to have handled a Taggart shot in the box.
Taggart took responsibility and calmly sent Ryan Scott the wrong way to claim his fifth goal of the season and 52nd overall for his hometown club.
Although Glory looked the more purposeful of the two sides immediately after the restart, Newcastle gradually regained the ascendancy and earned their reward as Ben Gibson’s ball into the box was deflected into the path of Taylor who readjusted his body position neatly before drilling home.
But the men from WA were not done and six minutes from time, they squared the ledger once again.
Anasmo showed great pace and persistence to get away down the left and after seeing two quickfire angled efforts both parried by Scott at the near post, he stayed alive to force the ball across the face of goal where Wales was on hand to finish.
There was almost yet another dramatic twist in the tale as Anasmo went through one-on-one with Scott in stoppage-time, but the Newcastle ‘keeper came out on top to ensure that both sides would take a point apiece.
Match Details
Isuzu UTE A-League 2024-25 Season Round 16
Newcastle Jets 2 (Adams 11′, Taylor 78′) Perth Glory 2 (Taggart (pen) 37′, Wales 84′)
Half-time: 1-1
McDonald Jones Stadium
Saturday 25 January 2025
Referee: Ben Abraham
Newcastle Jets: 1. Ryan SCOTT (GK), 7. Eli ADAMS (9. Lachlan ROSE 61′), 13. Clayton TAYLOR (6. Matthew SCARCELLA 85′), 17. Kosta GROZOS, 19. Callum TIMMINS, 22. Ben GIBSON (10. WELLISSOL 85′), 23. Daniel WILMERING, 28. Will DOBSON (18. Kota MIZUNUMA 54′), 33. Mark NATTA, 37. Lachlan BAYLISS (20. Charles M’MOMBWA 61′), 39. Thomas AQUILINA
Substitutes not used: 21. Noah JAMES (GK), 27. Nathan GRIMALDI
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Perth Glory: 1. Oli SAIL (gk), 4.Tass MOURDOUKOUTAS (28.Kaelan MAJEKODUNMI, 88′), 6. Brandon O’NEILL (18. Lachie WALES 63′), 12. Taras GOMULKA, 15. Zach LISOLAJSKI (17. Yuto MISAO 74′), 19. Josh RISDON (31. Joel ANASMO 74′), 20. Trent OSTLER, 22. Adam TAGGART, 23. Patrick WOOD (27. Will FRENEY 63′), 25. Jaylan PEARMAN, 29. Tomi MRCELA
Substitutes not used: 13. Cameron COOK (gk), 16. Adam BUGARIJA
Yellow Cards: Mrcela
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
