Stefan Colakovski scored his maiden goal for the club and Adam Taggart also found the net as Glory began the new Isuzu UTE A-League campaign with a 2-2 draw against Newcastle Jets at HBF Park.
View the full match highlights HERE.
View Alen Stajcic’s full post-match media conference HERE.
Stajcic’s first competitive game in charge got off to the best possible start as the men in purple hit the front inside the opening 90 seconds, Taggart forcing the ball home from close-range after Daniel Bennie had nodded on a Luke Ivanovic cross.
The Jets soon levelled, however, via a fine, long-range strike from Kosta Grozos and the score remained locked at 1-1 heading into the break.
Having made a bright start to the second half, Glory deservedly hit the front when Taggart picked off an errant pass out from the back, fed Giordano Colli and the midfielder in turn teed up Colakovski who gleefully fired home.
But they were denied an opening-round victory right at the death, as Stamatelopoulos nodded home from a deep free-kick.
After charging out of the blocks and grabbing the early lead, the hosts found themselves on the defensive as a stung Jets side hit back and after Grozos had equalised in spectacular fashion, Trent Buhagiar and Clayton Taylor both missed opportunities to put them in front.
But it was a different story after the break as Ryan Scott in the Newcastle goal was forced to deny Colli at close-range and Ivanovic then fired over after turning cleverly on the edge of the box.
The pressure finally told when Colakovski found the net in the 64th minute and Glory almost made it 3-1 moments later when Oliver Bozanic saw his shot well saved.
Scott then denied Taggart after he had been played in by Daniel Bennie and having failed to secure the buffer of a third goal, Stajcic’s side paid the ultimate price in stoppage-time when Stamatelopoulos pounced to secure the Jets a share of the spoils.
Glory return to action on Saturday with a trip to Wellington Phoenix.
Match Details
Isuzu UTE A-League 2023/24 Season Round 1
Sunday 22 October 2023
Perth Glory 2 (Taggart 2′, Colakovski 64′) Newcastle Jets 2 (Grozos 14′, Stamatelopoulos 90+2′)
Half-time: 1-0
Referee: Tim Danaskos
HBF Park
Attendance: 6592
Perth Glory: 1.Oli SAIL (GK), 2.Johnny KOUTROUMBIS, 5.Mark BEEVERS (co-c), 12.Luke IVANOVIC (9.David WILLIAMS 66′), 15.Aleksandar SUSNJAR, 17.Jarrod CARLUCCIO (7.Stefan COLAKOVSKI, 57′), 20.Giordano COLLI, 22.Adam TAGGART (co-c), 23.Daniel BENNIE (4.Luke BODNAR 83′), 24.Oliver BOZANIC (77.Bruce KAMAU 83′), 29.Darryl LACHMAN
Substitutes not used: 13.Cameron COOK (gk), 14.Riley WARLAND, 19.Trent OSTLER
Yellow Cards: Koutroumbis, Ivanovic, Carluccio
Red Cards: None
Newcastle Jets: 1.Ryan SCOTT, 3.Jason HOFFMAN, 7.Trent BUHAGIAR (37′), 8.Apostolos STAMATELOPOULOS, 13.Clayton TAYLOR, 14.Dane INGHAM, 15.Jason BERTHOMIER (19.Callum TIMMINS 66′), 17.Kosta GROZOS 25.Carl JENKINSON (18.Daniel STYNES 77′), 33.Mark NATTA
Substitutes not used: 22.Phillip CANCAR, 23.Daniel WILMERING, 39.Thomas AQUILINA, 21.Noah JAMES (GK)
Yellow Cards: Stamatelopoulos
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
