An 88th-minute header from Nathan Atkinson consigned Glory to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Melbourne City after the men in purple produced a dogged defensive display at AAMI Park on Wednesday evening.
View the full match highlights HERE.
Richard Garcia’s men frustrated last season’s double-winners for long periods and looked set to secure a hard-earned share of the spoils until Atkinson ghosted into the box to nod home at the far post.
The defeat was Glory’s first against City at AAMI Park in over five years and they fought desperately hard to preserve that impressive record, Cameron Cook producing an outstanding display in what was just his second A-League appearance and Jonathan Aspropotamitis also catching the eye with an all-action performance at the heart of the defence.
And Garcia was quick to praise that defensive resolve.
View his full post-match media conference HERE.
“It was a very gritty, gutsy performance from a bunch of guys that were noticeably fatigued,” he said.
“They dug in for each other and that reflects on what a solid unit they are and what a good team they are.
“It’s a new group, virtually, with a lot of young players in there, so I’m very pleased with the progress the group is making.”
The hosts created the bulk of the chances throughout, with Curtis Good heading wastefully wide in the first half and Andrew Nabbout striking the outside of the post early in the second.
Cook, meanwhile, denied Metcalfe with a fine save inside the opening two minutes and then went one better in the second half, showing superb reflexes to get a hand on a fiercely-struck effort from City substitute Florin Berenguer-Bohrer.
Glory’s best chance fell to Aaron Calver early in the piece, but the defender flashed his header from a Kosuke Ota corner across the face of goal and despite having a couple of half-chances, the in-form Bruno Fornaroli was unable to bag a third goal of the campaign.
Having played three times in 13 days, Garcia’s squad will now have an opportunity to recover and regroup ahead of their next outing which comes on Saturday 18 December away against Brisbane Roar.
Match Details
Melbourne City 1 Perth Glory 0
Half-time: 0-0
Referee: Ben Abraham
AAMI Park
Melbourne City: 1.Thomas GLOVER (GK), 2.Scott GALLOWAY, 3.Scott JAMIESON (C), 4.Nuno Perreira REIS, 7.Matthew LECKIE (10.Florin BERENGUER-BOHRER 68′), 8.Aiden O’NEILL, 9.Jamie MACLAREN, 15.Andrew NABBOUT (13.Nathaniel ATKINSON 79′), 18.Connor METCALFE, 22.Curtis GOOD, 23.Marco TILIO
Substitutes not used: 5.Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 17.Stefan COLAKOVSKI, 34.Jordon HALL, 39.Anthony LESIOTIS
Yellow Cards: Jamieson, Tilio
Red Cards: None
Perth Glory: 12.Cameron COOK (GK), 2.Aaron CALVER (22.Josh RAWLINS 69′), 4.Luke BODNAR (19.Callum TIMMINS 69′), 5.Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS, 7.Adrian SARDINERO ( 26.Giordano COLLI 87′), 8.Kosuke OTA, 9.Bruno FORNAROLI (C), 14.Jack CLISBY, 18.Daniel STYNES ( 38.Ciaran BRAMWELL 59′), 21.Antonee BURKE-GILROY, 29.Darryl LACHMAN
Substitutes not used: 24.Pacifique NIYONGABIRE, 30.Nicholas SORRAS (GK) 32.Aidan COYNE
Yellow Cards: Aspropotamitis, Burke-Gilroy, Lachman, Fornaroli
Red Cards: None
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