David Williams’ sensational 93rd-minute goal sealed a stirring comeback victory for Glory who overturned a two-goal deficit to down Macarthur FC 3-2 at HBF Park on Saturday evening.
View full match highlights HERE.
View Alen Stajcic’s post-match media conference HERE.
Mile Sterjovski’s high-flying Bulls had swept to a 2-0 half-time lead courtesy of well-taken efforts from Matt Millar and Valere Germain.
But once Salim Khelifi’s deflected effort halved the arrears three minutes after the restart, the game assumed a very different complexion and the men in purple soon levelled as Luke Ivanovic clipped home his first goal for the club.
With the visitors wilting on what was a typically warm night in the West, Glory surged forward in search of a winner during the latter stages and it duly arrived in stoppage-time, substitute Williams racing in on goal before applying a clinical finish to prompt wild celebrations in the Shed.
Such joyful scenes seemed a long way off when Macarthur, who came into the game having lost just once all season, took their only two clear-cut chances of the first half to open up a formidable lead.
The first arrived on the half-hour mark when a clever pass from Raphael released Matt Millar and he beat Cameron Cook from a tight angle.
And Millar then turned provider for his side’s second, crossing to the far post where French striker Valere Germain slid home his fourth goal of the season.
It was a very different story after the break, however, as Khelifi almost immediately pulled one back with a low shot which struck a defender on its way into the bottom corner and transformed the mood among the home fans.
Although Cook did have to be alert to keep out an angled strike from former Glory man Danny De Silva, it was the home side who looked the more dangerous and they were unfortunate not to make it 2-2 when Ivanovic saw his header brilliantly saved by Filip Kurto.
The 23-year-old was not to be denied his maiden Glory goal much longer, however, as just two minutes later he managed to force the ball in after a corner from substitute Mustafa Amini had been helped on by Jacob Muir.
There have been no shortage of grandstand finishes at HBF Park over the years and another one was destined to be added to the list, with Muir’s long ball being flicked on by Adam Taggart into the path of Williams who raced to the edge of the box before arrowing a shot into the bottom corner.
Match Details
Isuzu UTE A-League 2023/24 Season Round 9
Perth Glory 3 (Khelifi 48′, Ivanovic 65′, Williams 90+3′) Macarthur FC 2 (Millar 30′, Germain 43′)
Half-time: 0-2
HBF Park
Attendance: 5163
Perth Glory: 13.Cameron COOK (gk), 2.Johnny KOUTROUMBIS (19.Trent OSTLER 84′), 3.Jacob MUIR, 5.Mark BEEVERS (co-c), 7.Stefan COLAKOVSKI (9.David WILLIAMS 84′), 10.Salim KHELIFI (17.Jarrod CARLUCCIO 84′), 12.Luke IVANOVIC (77.Bruce KAMAU 72′), 15.Aleksandar SUSNJAR, 20.Giordano COLLI, 22.Adam TAGGART (co-c), 24.Oliver BOZANIC (8.Mustafa AMINI 59′)
Substitutes not used: 1.Oli SAIL (gk), 29.Darryl LACHMAN
Yellow Cards: Khelifi
Red Cards: None
Macarthur FC: 12. Filip KURTO (GK), 4. Matthew JURMAN, 5. Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS, 7.Danny DE SILVA (8. Jake HOLLMAN 59′), 10. Ulises DAVILA (19.Jesper WEBBER 77′), 15. Kearyn BACCUS, 17. RAPHAEL (31. Lachlan ROSE 77′), 23. Clayton LEWIS (36. Ali AUGLAH 59′), 32.Isaac HOVAR, 44. Matt MILLAR, 98. Valere GERMAIN (14. Kristian POPOVIC, 90+2′)
Substitutes not used: 1. Danijel NIZIC, 22. Yianni NICOLAOU
Yellow Cards: Auglah
Red Cards: None
#ONEGlory
