Adam Taggart’s first-half double was not enough to prevent Glory from slipping to a 4-2 home defeat against Adelaide United at HBF Park on Sunday.
View full match highlights HERE
View Alen Stajcic’s post-match media conference HERE
The Socceroos forward took his tally for the season to 17 by scoring twice in the space of five minutes, with Daniel Bennie providing the assist on both occasions.
But the hosts were unable to build upon that platform and indeed found themselves trailing by the break as Hiroshi Ibusuki, Zac Clough and Stefan Mauk each responded for the Reds in quick succession.
And when Ibusuki rattled in his second and United’s fourth five minutes after the restart, the mountain was too high for Glory to climb.
Despite the hot conditions, both sides set a high tempo right from the off and Glory came close to opening the scoring when Bennie drew a sharp save from James Delianov with an angled strike 14 minutes in.
The home fans did not have to wait much longer for a goal, however, as Bennie capped a rapid break by zipping in a low cross and although Taggart’s initial effort was cleared off the line by Nick Ansell, the Glory skipper stayed alert to hammer home the loose ball.
The same combination unlocked the Adelaide defence again soon after, this time Taggart controlling Bennie’s low cross, spinning neatly close to the penalty spot and calmly finding the net.
To their credit, the Reds responded almost immediately to haul themselves back into the game, Ryan Kitto heading a Javi Lopez back across goal and Ibusuki volleying past Oli Sail.
As the chances continued to flow at both ends, Bennie was again thwarted by Delianov before the Reds levellled things up via a stunning Clough strike from the edge of the box.
Nestory Irankunda had played a key role in teeing up that shooting opportunity for Clough and the Bayern Munich-bound starlet claimed another assist for his side’s third goal in first-half stoppage-time, this time sliding in Mauk who applied a composed finish.
Early in the second half, Mauk added an assist to his goal, neatly cushioning an Isaias pass into the path of Ibusuki who crashed his shot past Sail to make it 4-2.
Glory have made a habit of launching second-half comebacks this season and they looked a decent chance to do so again as Bruce Kamau saw his near post effort blocked by Delianov and substitute David Williams was just unable to steer home a fine cross from Riley Warland.
Taggart also saw a goalbound effort blocked in a crowded box, while Adelaide continued to look a menace on the break and Sail did superbly well to deny the lively Irankunda with his legs in a one-on-one situation 18 minutes from time.
Both sides continued to attack with abandon right to the end of an enthralling contest, but ultimately neither was able to make another breakthrough.
Match Details
Isuzu UTE A-League 2023/24 Season Round 23
Perth Glory 2 (Taggart 22′, 27′) Adelaide United 4 (Ibusuki 30′, 50′, Clough 41′, Mauk 45+7′)
Half-time: 2-3
HBF Park
Sunday 7 April 2024
Attendance: 5338
Referee: Adam Bavcar
Perth Glory: 1.Oli SAIL (gk), 2.Johnny KOUTROUMBIS (16.Josh RAWLINS 46′), 8.Mustafa AMINI (17.Jarrod CARLUCCIO 57′), 14.Riley WARLAND (31.Joel ANASMO 74′), 15.Aleksandar SUSNJAR (29.Darryl LACHMAN 57′), 19.Trent OSTLER, 20.Giordano COLLI, 22.Adam TAGGART (co-c), 23.Daniel BENNIE, 28.Kaelan MAJEKODUNMI, 77.Bruce KAMAU (9.David WILLIAMS 57′)
Substitutes not used: 3.Jacob MUIR, 13.Cameron COOK (gk)
Yellow Cards: Susnjar, Rawlins, Carluccio
Red Cards: None
Adelaide United: 1.James DELIANOV, 3.Ben WARLAND (2.Harry VAN DER SAAG 46′), 4.Nick ANSELL, 6.Stefan MAUK (37.Jonny YULL 72′), 7.Ryan KITTO, 8.ISAÍAS, 9.Hiroshi IBUSUKI (17.Luka JOVANOVIĆ 87′), 10.Zach CLOUGH (26.Ben HALLORAN 66′), 21.Javi LÓPEZ, 55.Ethan ALAGICH (22.Ryan TUNNICLIFFE 67′), 66.Nestory IRANKUNDA
Substitutes not used: 40.Ethan COX (GK), 49.Musa TOURE
Yellow Cards: Lopez
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
