Stefan Colakovski and David Williams grabbed the goals as Glory produced one of the bravest performances in the club’s recent history to secure a 2-1 win over high-flying Western Sydney Wanderers at CommBank Stadium on Saturday.
View full match highlights HERE
View Alen Stajcic’s post-match media conference HERE
At the end of a torrid week off the field, Alen Stajcic’s side showcased a combination of impressive attacking fluidity and gritty defensive resolve to secure a first away win of the season.
Colakovski fired his side into the lead just after the half-hour mark, applying a pinpoint finish to cap off a sweeping breakaway featuring Bruce Kamau and Adam Taggart.
Predictably, Wanderers duly cranked up the pressure during the second half, only for substitute Williams to slam home Glory’s second three minutes from time.
And although the recalled Oli Sail was unable to keep out a Marcelo header deep into stoppage-time, Glory were not to be denied a deserved and much-needed victory.
Right from the off, the men in white looked a huge threat going forward against the tightest defence in the competition this season.
Taggart went close to breaking the deadlock twice in as many minutes, sending a powerful header narrowly wide and then seeing his close-range effort well saved by Daniel Margush.
But the opener would not be long in coming and it was a superbly-crafted effort, with Kamau sending Taggart away down the left and Glory’s leading scorer turning provider by sliding in a low cross which Colakovski fired, first-time, into the bottom corner.
Glory threatened to double their lead early in the second half, Johnny Koutroumbis drawing a smart save from Margush and Aleks Susnjar firing wide.
And while the hosts enjoyed plenty of possession and territory, Sail’s save from Josh Brillante was the only serious moment of concern in the Glory area.
Nonetheless, an anxious final few minutes loomed before Williams settled the nerves, scampering into the right channel in pursuit of a fine ball from Giordano Colli, cutting inside his man and lashing an unstoppable shot past Margush.
And although the unfortunate Sail could only push Marcelo’s header from a stoppage-time corner into the net, Glory were not to be denied a famous and morale-boosting victory.
Match Details
Isuzu UTE A-League 2023/24 Season Round 13
Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (Sail (o.g.) 90+6′) Perth Glory 2 (Colakovski 34′, Williams 87′)
Half-time: 0-1
CommBank Stadium
Saturday 20 January 2024
Referee: Ben Abraham
Western Sydney Wanderers:Â 1.Daniel MARGUSH, 6.Marcelo, 7. Dylan PIERIAS (17. Lachlan BROOK 80′), 9. Marcus ANTONSSON, 13. Tate RUSELL, 14. Nicolas MILANOVIC (11. Valentino YUEL 64′), 19. Jack CLISBY, 25. Josh BRILLANTE, 31. Aidan SIMMONS, 33. Alex BONETIG, 36. Oscar PRIESTMAN (2.Gabriel CLEUR 64′), 37. Alex BADOLATO (10. Milos NINKOVIC 64′)
Substitutes not used: 16. Tom BEADLING, 30.Taiga HARPER (gk) 39. Marcus YOUNIS
Yellow Cards: Ninkovic, Priestman
Red Cards: None
Perth Glory:Â 1.Oli SAIL (gk), 2.Johnny KOUTROUMBIS (19.Trent OSTLER 73′), 7.Stefan COLAKOVSKI (12.Luke IVANOVIC 57′), 8.Mustafa AMINI (4.Luke BODNAR 73′), 14.Riley WARLAND (3.Jacob MUIR 79′), 15.Aleksandar SUSNJAR, 20.Giordano COLLI, 22.Adam TAGGART (co-c), 23.Daniel BENNIE, 29.Darryl LACHMAN, 77.Bruce KAMAU (9.David WILLIAMS 57′)
Substitutes not used: 13.Cameron COOK (gk), 27.Jayden GORMAN,
Yellow Cards: Taggart, Warland, Amini
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
