A last-gasp diving header from David Williams extended Glory’s unbeaten record at Macedonia Park as Ruben Zadkovich’s men came from 2-0 down to secure a dramatic 2-2 draw with Sydney FC.
View full match highlights HERE.
The visitors dominated the first half and took a commanding lead into the break courtesy of well-taken goals from Joe Lolley and Rhyan Grant.
But Glory halved the arrears within two minutes of the restart via a superb header from substitute Zach Duncan and after a power failure held up play for ten minutes, Williams struck right at the death to seal a deserved point.
Head Coach Ruben Zadkovich was again impressed by his side’s mentality as they battled their way back into the contest to take their tally of points from five home games this season to 11.
View his full post-match media conference HERE.
“The first-half was quite poor,” he said.
“Physically, I think the short turnarounds in those games leading into it probably took their toll a little bit and we kind of knew that would happen.
“But we wanted to keep some players fresh because obviously late in the game when they [Sydney FC] fatigue, we need to have something up our sleeve.
“So in some ways, the plan in the second half worked really well, but we didn’t want to start that passive and that much on the back foot.
“I wouldn’t say I’m happy with tonight because I want us to win and I expect us to try and win at home.
“We need to play better than we did for longer periods, but the character and the resilience in the group is huge and seven points from the last three games is a decent effort.”
Many among another full house at Macedonia Park were still finding their seats when the Sky Blues took the lead, Lolley surging his way from the halfway line to the edge of the box before beating Cameron Cook with a low shot which found the net via the base of the post.
Glory very nearly restored parity ten minutes later, John Koutroumbis seeing his header blocked by Andrew Redmayne after Mustafa Amini and Jack Clisby had combined to create the opening.
As the chances continued to flow at either end, Sydney duly doubled their lead, Lolley turning provider by sending in a deep cross which Grant forced home at the far post.
At that stage it looked a long way back for the home side and they were fortunate not go 3-0 down when Max Burgess struck the underside of the bar having been sent through on goal by Robert Mak.
But Glory steadily clawed their way back into it and after Mark Beevers saw his header from a Clisby corner fly inches wide just before the break, Duncan was not to be denied in similar circumstances right at the start of the second half.
Introduced as one of three half-time substitutes, the midfielder timed his near-post run perfectly to meet Clisby’s corner and head firmly past Redmayne.
Visibly lifted by that goal, Glory continued to threaten as the half wore on, David Williams twice going close from long-range and even the ten-minute delay caused by the power failure did not disrupt their momentum.
When full power was restored, Adam Zimarino found the side-netting after bursting into the box before David Williams stabbed a close-range short just wide of the mark.
The former Socceroo was not to be denied the goal his energetic appearance off the bench deserved, however and when fellow-substitute Jacob Dowse whipped in a sublime cross from the right, he dived full length to arrow an unstoppable header past Redmayne.
Match Details
ISUZU UTE A-League 2022/23 Season Round 12
Perth Glory 2 (Duncan 46′, David Williams 90+12′) Sydney FC 2 (Lolley 6′, Grant 26′)
Half-time: 0-2
Macedonia Park
Referee: Alex King
Perth Glory:Â 13.Cameron COOK (gk), 2.John KOUTROUMBIS, 4.Luke BODNAR (18.David WILLIAMS 46′), 5.Mark BEEVERS, 7.Ryan WILLIAMS, 8.Mustafa AMINI (c) (36.Joseph FORDE 90+1′), 12.Luke IVANOVIC (43.Adam ZIMARINO 46′), 14.Jack CLISBY (3.Jacob DOWSE 90+1′), 16.Keegan JELACIC, 29.Darryl LACHMAN, 37.Jacob MUIR (19.Zach DUNCAN 46′)
Substitutes not used: 33.Liam REDDY (gk), 20.Giordano COLLI
Yellow Cards: Muir
Red Cards: None
Sydney FC: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 2. James DONACHIE, 9. Adam LE FONDRE, 10. Joe LOLLEY (25. Jaiden KUCHARSKI 90+2′), 11. Robert MAK, 17. Anthony CACERES, 18. Diego CABALLO, 22. Max BURGESS (8. Paulo RETRE 65′), 23. Rhyan GRANT, 26. Luke BRATTAN (c), 29. Aaron GURD
Substitutes not used: 5. Connor O’TOOLE, 12. Pat WOOD, 19. Adrian SEGECIC, 20. Thomas HEWARD-BELLE (GK), 27. Adrian VLASTELICA
Yellow Cards: Retre, Brattan
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
