Goals from Perth-born duo Ryan Williams and Jack Clisby fired Glory to an impressive 2-1 win over reigning ISUZU UTE A-League champions Western United in what was the men’s first outing at Macedonia Park.
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In front of a near-capacity crowd, Williams’ cross looped in at the far post to give the hosts the lead in the 14th minute and Clisby duly made it 2-0 seven minutes into the second half with a stunning, right-foot curler.
Former Glory midfielder Neil Kilkenny found the net with a free-kick six minutes from time to set up a tense and dramatic finale in which the visitors lost Leo Lacroix to a straight red card and struck the post through Noah Botic’s header.
But the men in purple dug deep to hang on and secure what Head Coach Ruben Zadkovich felt was a victory everyone associated with the club deserved.
View his full media conference HERE.
“I’m just really, really proud for everyone, especially my playing group,” he said.
“We really wanted to do it for our fans who have been without football here for a long time.
“They’ve endured a pretty horrid time for the club, to be honest.
“They stick with us; that’s what Perth Glory fans do and it was nice to get a win in front of them.
“I thought the facility, Macedonia Park and the way it’s come together was a massive positive.”
Roared on by a vocal home crowd, Glory made the perfect start when Ryan Williams’ cross from the right flank sailed over Jamie Young in the United goal and found the net.
Williams then went close again midway through the half, sending in a low shot which Young did well to turn around the post via a one-handed save.
United did eventually grow into the opening period, but were unable to create a serious opportunity until four minutes before the break when ex-Glory defender Jacob Tratt picked out Aleksandar Prijovic who headed narrowly wide.
Glory’s response to that let-off was to double their advantage in the opening minutes of the second half and they did so in spectacular style.
Overlapping into the left channel, Clisby received a pass from Keegan Jelacic, checked onto his unfavoured right foot and opened his Glory account, in what was his 52nd A-League appearance for the club, with a sumptuous curling effort which left Young helpless.
Ryan Williams then twice came close to making it 3-0 before United clawed their way back into the contest via Kilkenny’s free-kick which eluded everyone in a packed box and crept in at the far post.
That sparked a dramatic denouement as John Aloisi’s side poured forward and they almost levelled things up when substitute Botic’s header struck the foot of the post before rebounding against Liam Reddy and eventually going wide.
Lacroix subsequently appeared to catch Glory substitute Matt Hatch with a flailing arm to earn himself a straight red card and the hosts were able to see out the final seconds, prompting wild scenes of celebration all around the ground.
Match Details
ISUZU UTE A-League 2022/23 Season Round 7
Perth Glory 2 (Ryan Williams 14′, Clisby 52′) Western United 1 (Kilkenny 84′)
Half-time: 1-0
Macedonia Park
Referee: Daniel Elder
Perth Glory: 33.Liam REDDY (gk), 5.Mark BEEVERS, 6.Aaron MCENEFF, 7.Ryan WILLIAMS, 8.Mustafa AMINI (c) (19.Zach DUNCAN 72′), 10.Salim KHELIFI, 14.Jack CLISBY (25.Matt HATCH 89′), 16.Keegan JELACIC, 18.David WILLIAMS (11.Ben AZUBEL 89′), 29.Darryl LACHMAN, 37.Jacob MUIR (2.John KOUTROUMBIS 89′)
Substitutes not used: 13.Cameron COOK (gk), 28.Trent OSTLER, 43.Adam ZIMARINO
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Western United: 1. Jamie YOUNG (gk), 4. Leo LACROIX, 8. Lachlan WALES, 11. Connor PAIN (26. Nicolas MILANOVIC 62′), 14. James TROISI (38. Noah BOTIC 80′), 19. Joshua RISDON, 27. Jacob TRATT (5. Dylan PIERIAS 62′), 42. Rhys BOZINOVSKI (7. Tongo DOUMBIA 62′), 44. Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY, 88. Neil KILKENNY, 99. Aleksandar PRIJOVIC
Substitutes not used: 9. Dylan WENZEL-HALLS, 33. Ben COLLINS, 37. Ryan SCOTT (gk)
Yellow Cards: Risdon
Red Cards: Lacroix
#ONEGlory
