Glory secured their first point of the 2024/25 season on Saturday courtesy of a hard-earned 0-0 draw against reigning Champions and Premiers Central Coast Mariners at Industree Group Stadium.
Click HERE to view the match highlights
Click HERE to view David Zdrilic’s post-match media conference
In a game of relatively few clear-cut chances, Glory went closest through Brandon O’Neill in the first half, while the Mariners were denied a second half penalty by the intervention of VAR.
The goalless draw, Glory’s first on the road since April 2023, came in what was the club’s 250th overall A-League away game and owed much to a dogged and disciplined defensive performance.
On a damp evening in Gosford, it was the home side who created the first opportunity of the game, Oli Sail and Zach Lisolajski combining brilliantly to keep out a shot from Sasha Kuzevski.
Glory then went similarly close themselves 20 minutes in when the ball broke for O’Neill just inside the Mariners’ box after some hesitant defending, but the midfielder placed his effort narrowly wide.
Abdul Faisal unleashed two shots in quick succession towards the end of the first half as the game threatened to burst into life, only for the goalmouth action to dry up at both ends until midway through the second.
Moments after Adam Taggart had dragged a half-chance across the face of goal, the Mariners thought they had been handed a gilt-edged opportunity to break the deadlock.
A cross from the dangerous Mikael Doka was adjudged to have struck Canga’s arm by debutant referee Nathan Shakespear who duly pointed to the spot.
The Glory defender, however, was adamant that the ball had actually hit his shoulder and after a lengthy delay, VAR concurred and overturned the initial decision.
That incident prompted a lively finale in which both goalkeepers were called into action, Dylan Peraic-Cullen foiling Glory substitute Nathanael Blair and Sail keeping out a long-range strike from Lucas Mauragis.
With the home fans finding their voice, Central Coast tried desperately to apply some late pressure, but with Canga and Lachlan Barr to the fore, the visitors repelled them relatively comfortably to lock down a precious and deserved point.
Match Details
Isuzu UTE A-League 2024/25 Season Round 3
Central Coast Mariners 0 Perth Glory 0
Half-time: 0-0
Industree Group Stadium
Saturday 2 November 2024
Referee: Nathan Shakespear
Attendance: 7718
Central Coast Mariners: 40. Dylan PERAIC-CULLEN (gk), 3. Brian KALTAK, 8. Alfie McCALMONT, 9. Alou KUOL (99. Ryan EDMONDSON 57′), 10. Mikael DOKA, 12. Lucas MAURAGIS, 16. Harry STEELE (36. Haine EAMES 82′), 26. Bradley TAPP (24. Diesel HERRINGTON 37′), 27. Sasha KUZEVSKI (17. Sabit NGOR 82′), 33. Nathan PAULL, 37. Bailey BRANDTMAN (11. Vitor FEIJAO 57′)
Substitutes not used: 1 Adam PAVLESIC (gk), 15. Storm ROUX
Yellow Cards: Paull, Eames
Red Cards: None
Perth Glory: 1.Oli SAIL (gk), 5.Lachlan BARR, 6.Brandon O’NEILL (7.Nicholas PENNINGTON 70′), 9.David WILLIAMS (14.Nathanael BLAIR 66′), 11.Hiroaki AOYAMA (16.Adam BUGARIJA 46′), 12.Taras GOMULKA, 15.Zach LISOLAJSKI, 17.Jarrod CARLUCCIO, 21.Abdul FAISAL (26.Khoa NGO 66′), 22.Adam TAGGART (c), 33.Luis CANGA
Substitutes not used: 13.Cameron COOK (gk), 20.Trent OSTLER, 24.Andriano LEBIB
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
