Glory were unable to halt Melbourne City’s flying start to the season as the home side ran out 4-0 winners in Saturday’s Round 5 clash at AAMI Park.
View the video highlights HERE.
Ruben Zadkovich’s men kept the league leaders and reigning Premiers at bay until early in the second half when Jamie Maclaren pounced on a loose ball in the box to put his side ahead.
The former Glory striker then doubled City’s lead from the penalty spot after Mitch Oxborrow was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box and late efforts from widemen Marco Tilio and Matthew Leckie duly completed the scoring.
Zadkovich pulled no punches in his assessment of what was a difficult afternoon for the men in purple.
View his full media conference HERE.
“I’m disappointed,” he said.
“Obviously it’s not an easy place to come and for a squad like us, you have to be at your best and I don’t think we were and it is what it is.
“They’re top of the league for a reason, they’re a quality outfit and they were just too good for us tonight.
“There was a big divide in class and quality between the two teams
“They [the Glory players] tried hard, but belief and confidence is something that comes and goes and when you play away from home five times in a row, there’s a cumulative loading for the players mentally, physically and emotionally and it starts to take its toll.
“But we’ll stay really positive because we know how early we are in this process… our rewards will come later.
“It’s really important that we stay focused on the long-term goals and we will.”
Jack Clisby and Joseph Forde were both handed starts as Zadkovich made two changes to his run-on side and they were soon in the thick of the action as City gained the ascendancy.
Yet for all their territorial dominance, the hosts were unable to seriously Liam Reddy during the first half, with the man chalking up his 150th appearance for Glory forced to make nothing more than a couple of regulation saves.
The complexion of the game changed four minutes into the second half, however, Glory’s dogged resistance finally breaking down as Valon Berisha surged into the box before finding Tilio and when the ball broke loose, Maclaren showed no hesitation in sweeping home.
The Socceroos striker then took his tally to 11 in 15 appearances against Glory 15 minutes from time, this time calmly beating Reddy from the spot after substitute Oxborrow had been penalised for handball.
3-0 soon became 4-0 as Tilio drove home a low shot and deep into stoppage-time, Leckie added a fourth, converting on the rebound after Richard van der Venne’s strike had struck the post.
Match Details
ISUZU UTE A-League 2022/23 Season Round 5
Melbourne City 4 (Maclaren 49′, 75′ (pen), Tilio 82′, Leckie 90+5′)Perth Glory 0
Half-time: 0-0
AAMI Park
Referee: Jack Morgan
Melbourne City FC: 1.Tom GLOVER (GK), 4. Nuno REIS (3.Scott JAMIESON 80′), 7. Mathew LECKIE, 8. Richard VAN DER VENNE, 9. Jamie MACLAREN (C), 13. Aiden O’NEILL, 14. Valon BERISHA (15. Andrew NABBOUT 63′), 22. Curtis GOOD, 23. Marco TILIO, 25. Callum TALBOT, 38. Jordan BOS.
Substitutes not used: 2.Scott GALLOWAY, 16. Taras GOMULKA, 18. Jordon HALL, 33. Matthew SUTTON (GK), 36. Kerrin STOKES
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Perth Glory: 33.Liam REDDY (gk), 3.Jacob DOWSE, 5.Mark BEEVERS (c), 6.Aaron MCENEFF, 7.Ryan WILLIAMS, 10.Salim KHELIFI, 11.Ben AZUBEL, 19.Zach DUNCAN, 20.Giordano COLLI, 29.Daryl LACHMAN, 36.Joseph FORDE,
Substitutes not used: 4.Luke BODNAR, 12.Luke IVANOVIC, 23.Mitch OXBORROW, 30.Pierce CLARK (gk), 37.Jacob MUIR, 43.Adam ZIMARINO, 77.Stefan COLAKOVSKI
Yellow Cards: Forde, Duncan, Azubel, Beevers, Williams
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
