Glory secured a place in the Australia Cup Round of 16 for the first time since 2016 courtesy of a thrilling 5-4 extra-time victory over Melbourne City at the Sam Kerr Football Centre on Saturday evening.
View full match highlights HERE
View David Zdrilic’s post-match media conference HERE
The capacity crowd, who braved chilly conditions, witnessed a roller-coaster of a game which saw Glory roar back from 4-2 down midway through the second half, before Nathanael Blair grabbed what proved to be the winner just before half-time in extra-time.
Abdul Faisal had given the hosts an early lead with his third goal in two games and after Max Caputo headed City level, substitute Adam Taggart restored Glory’s lead two minutes into the second half.
The visitors responded with two quickfire deflected goals from Harry Politidis and Andrew Nabbout, but Blair soon reduced the arrears and Adam Bugarija then headed home two minutes from the end of normal time to make it 4-4.
Building on the momentum gained from that late leveller, David Zdrilic’s side poured forward in extra-time and gained their reward 14 minutes in when a Taras Gomulka corner fell kindly for Blair who prodded the ball over the line.
The tone for a scintillating contest was set as early as the third minute when Faisal exploited a pocked of space just inside the City box, shipped the ball onto his left foot and arrowed a shot past James Nieuwenhuizen.
To their credit, the Victorians rallied and duly equalised as Caputo met a Politidis cross with a deft glancing header.
The second half then started as explosively as the first, Taggart showing the kind of form that saw him take out last season’s A-League Golden Boot by clipping home a cut-back from Taras Gomulka.
Again City hit back, however and this time they found the net twice, although both Politidis’ and Nabbout’s efforts struck defenders on their way past Oli Sail.
At that stage, Glory looked to have a mountain to climb, but scale it they did.
Blair popped up at the far post to nod in a Gomulka corner and with the home fans in full voice, Bugarija soon followed suit by heading a Josh Risdon cross into the far corner to make it 4-4.
Glory had posed a huge threat at set-pieces throughout the contest and when Gomulka produced another pinpoint delivery in the first period of extra-time, Blair lunged in to force the ball past Nieuwenhuizen from close range and seal a memorable victory.
Match Details
2024 Australia Cup Round of 32
Perth Glory 5 (Faisal 3′, Taggart 47′, Blair 74′, 114′, Bugarija 88′) Melbourne City 4 (Caputo 36′, Politidis 52′, Nabbout 64′, Schreiber 69′)*
*After extra-time
Half-time: 1-1
Sam Kerr Football Centre
Saturday 3 August 2024
Referee: Alireza Faghani
Attendance: 2015
Perth Glory: 1.Oli SAIL (gk), 4.Luke BODNAR (22.Adam TAGGART 46′), 5.Lachie BARR, 6.Brandon O’NEILL (29.Jacob MUIR 113′), 9.David WILLIAMS (c) (14.Nathanael BLAIR 69′), 12.Taras GOMULKA, 15.Zach LISOLAJSKI (26.Khoa NGO 104′), 17.Jarrod CARLUCCIO, 19.Josh RISDON, 21.Abdul FAISAL (16.Adam BUGARIJA 69′), 28.Kaelan MAJEKODUNMI
Substitutes not used: 13.Cameron COOK (gk), 25.Jaylan PEARMAN
Yellow Cards: Williams, Carluccio
Red Cards: None
Melbourne City: 40.James NIEUWENHIUZEN (gk), 2.Callum TALBOT, 8.James JEGGO, 15.Andrew NABBOUT, 16.Aziz BEHICH (35.Medin MEMETI 116′) (c), 17.Max CAPUTO (20.Arion SULEMANI 90′), 19.Zane SCHREIBER (42.Benjamin DUNBAR 98′), 21.Alessandro LOPANE (41.Lawrence WONG 106′), 26.Samuel SOUPRAYEN (22.German FERREYRA 91′), 27.Kai TREWIN, 38.Harry POLITIDIS (23.Marco TILIO 72′)
Substitutes not used: 33.Patrick BEACH (gk)
Yellow Cards: Politidis, Jeggo
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
