Glory still retain an outside chance of making the ISUZU UTE A-League Finals following an incredible 4-4 draw with high-flying Adelaide United at HBF Park on Sunday afternoon.
View full match highlights HERE.
Ruben Zadkovich’s men trailed 2-1 and 3-2 before striking twice in stoppage-time to take a 4-3 lead, only for the Reds to claim a share of the spoils with a 98th-minute equaliser.
Ryan Williams’ neat finish had put Glory ahead shortly after the half-hour mark, but Luke Jovanovic had Adelaide level just two minutes later and Craig Goodwin then fired them ahead early in the second half.
Adam Taggart’s superb header swiftly restored parity, ahead of Ryan Kitto restoring the Reds’ lead as the two sides continued to trade blows.
The drama then reached new heights in stoppage-time as substitute Adam Zimarino swept home his second goal in as many games to make it 3-3 and Taggart duly thumped in his second and Glory’s fourth.
Nestory Irankunda, however, was to prove Adelaide’s saviour, picking out the bottom corner in the 98th minute to ensure the points would be shared.
The result means Glory could still make the Finals should they win against Western United next weekend and Wellington lose to Macarthur FC, with a goal-difference swing also required for the WA side to extend their season.
In the wake of another breathtaking finale to a home game, one of many this term, Zadkovich was left to rue what might have been.
View his full post-match media conference HERE.
“4-all draws are not always good for coaches, but I’m sure it was good for the fans,” he said, “and probably a good advertisement for the league in terms of there being a lot of young players, talented young prospects doing it on the big stage in Australia.
“I’m sure it was a good spectacle for the neutral, but it was obviously disappointing not to win in the end.
“We showed a lot of character to come from behind twice and get in front.
“It shows a lot of belief and a strong mentality, but obviously in the dressing room, they’re disappointed, because there were some defensive moments that we need to be better at and some periods of the game that we need to manage better.
“In the end, it’s cost us.”
There was little to suggest the goal-fest that was to unfold during a cagey opening half-hour which saw neither goalkeeper seriously tested.
But once Williams latched onto a superb long ball from Luke Bodnar and dinked a shot past the advancing Joe Gauci, the handbrake well and truly came off.
Jovanovic had the Reds level almost immediately, firing in from point-blank range after the home defence had struggled to clear a Kitto cross and shortly after the break, Goodwin made it 2-1 as he benefitted from Ben Halloran’s cross being unwittingly deflected into his path by Jack Clisby.
Within six minutes of that setback, Williams had added an assist to his goal, delivering a delightful cross from the left which Taggart needed no second invitation to head past Gauci.
The ebb and flow continued as Kitto found the net on the rebound after Goodwin’s initial effort had rebounded back out off the post and what was to prove an extraordinary period of stoppage-time began with Zimarino making it 3-3 via a poacher’s finish.
The home fans barely had time to catch their collective breath after that leveller when Taggart capped a surging run by sending a stinging drive past Gauci, prompting wild celebrations among the Glory players that were mirrored in the stands.
An incredible comeback win was denied the men in purple, however, when Irankunda added to his burgeoning reputation by rifling home an unstoppable shot right at the death.
Match Details
ISUZU UTE A-League 2022/23 Season Round 26
Perth Glory 4 (Williams 32′, Taggart 60′, 90+6′, Zimarino 90+3′) Adelaide United 4 (Jovanovic 34′, Goodwin 51′, Kitto 78′, Irankunda 90+8′)
Half-time: 1-1
HBF Park
Sunday 23 April 2023
Referee: Jack Morgan
Attendance: 6083
Perth Glory: 13.Cameron COOK (gk), 4.Luke BODNAR (19.Zach DUNCAN 74′), 5.Mark BEEVERS, 7.Ryan WILLIAMS, 8.Mustafa AMINI (c), 14.Jack CLISBY (3.Jacob DOWSE 66′), 15.Jordan ELSEY (37.Jacob MUIR 87′), 16.Keegan JELACIC (43.Adam ZIMARINO 87′), 21.Antonee BURKE-GILROY (28.Trent OSTLER 66′), 22.Adam TAGGART, 29.Darryl LACHMAN
Substitutes not used: 30.Pierce CLARK (gk), 36.Joseph FORDE
Yellow Cards: Amini, Burke-Gilroy, Taggart
Red Cards: None
Adelaide United: 46.Joe GAUCI (gk), 3.Ben WARLAND, 6.Louis D’ARRIGO, 7.Ryan KITTO, 8.ISAÍAS, 11.Craig GOODWIN (c), 21.Javi LÓPEZ, 26.Ben HALLORAN (36.Panashe MADANHA 90+4′), 31.BERNARDO, 35.Luka JOVANOVIĆ (66.Nestory IRANKUNDA 63′) , 37.Jonny YULL (14.George BLACKWOOD 71′), 41.Alexandar POPOVIĆ
Substitutes not used: 1.James DELIANOV (gk), 4.Nick ANSELL, 55.Ethan ALAGICH
Yellow Cards: Isaias, Goodwin, Irankunda
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
