Second-half goals from Ryan Williams, Ben Azubel, Matt Hatch and Adam Zimarino eased Glory to a 4-0 win over Gold Coast Knights in Wednesday’s pre-season friendly clash at the Croatian Sporting Complex in Carrara.
Williams had already had one effort ruled out for offside when he opened his Glory account with a close-range finish moments after the break and defender John Koutroumbis then saw a well-struck shot saved as the visitors piled on the pressure.
Ben Azubel duly made it 2-0, the Israeli striker capping a powerful run through the home defence with a composed finish.
Having bagged his maiden goal for the club, Azubel claimed his first assist almost immediately, teeing up Matt Hatch who drilled home.
The Knights were denied a late consolation when substitute Cameron Cook kept out a penalty and instead, it was Glory who had the final say.
Adam Zimarino, who had struck the woodwork earlier in the second half, capped a rapid breakaway featuring Azubel and Keegan Jelacic by sweeping home his side’s fourth in the last minute.
Head Coach Ruben Zadkovich was pleased to see his charges get another competitive hit-out under their belts.
“Another clean sheet, a few goals, plenty of positives, but the result is not the focus,” he said.
“We were chasing the performance. In patches it was good, in patches it was poor. We need to keep refining.
“The combination and timing between players is still clunky at times but it’s not far off and starting to take shape.”
“It was a good test.
“It raises a few issues and a few more coaching points and areas to work on.
“They did not make things easy and watching the players deal with the frustration of not being able to get ahead was good.
“There’s often a sense of entitlement when an A-League team plays an NPL team that they should win, but it doesn’t work like that.
“It was nice to see the boys fighting with the frustration and the process of ‘why can’t we get ahead’.
“I found the struggle interesting and learnt a few more things about different people.
“They dug themselves out of it got some good interchanges and really nice goals.”
#ONEGlory
