All signs pointed to a better result for the Glory last weekend, but football often delivers the opposite of what we expect.
The Wanderers hadn’t won in Perth for 10 years and they had just come off the back of a 7-0 hiding by Melbourne City.
Even in the match itself, Perth created more and accumulated a higher xG over the 90 minutes.
Usually the Glory make the most of their opportunities. This time they were left to rue them as Lachlan Brook snatched a late winner to claim an important three points for Marko Rudan’s side.
Like another WA team in purple, slow starts have been a kryptonite for Glory and it cost them again when Brandon Borrello opened the scoring 11 minutes into the contest.
Marcelo’s header from a corner was clawed away by Oli Sail, only for the next corner to be flicked on by Borrello at the front post, who got the jump over Giordano Colli after evading his marker.
Five of the Wanderers 15 shots came in that opening period, as the likes of Milos Ninkovic and Jorrit Hendrix went to work passing the ball around, searching for a gap in the Glory’s deep-lying defence.
It took 20 minutes for the home side to register their first attempt on goal and start playing on the front foot, with most of it coming from the left side.
The Glory lineup saw some alterations in the attacking positions. Jarrod Carluccio’s absence saw Stef Colakovski move to the right hand side, making room for David Williams to partner Adam Taggart up top.
To no one’s surprise Taggart was the man on the scoresheet, equalising right on the stroke of half time. His interception fell nicely to Colli, who returned the ball to the striker as he made a run into the box for a simple finish.
Colakovski was subbed at the break for Jayden Gorman after a quiet outing, touching the ball just 12 times and without registering a shot. Jack Clisby got the better of him in their matchup, and in the second half the ex-Glory defender helped subdue the threat of Daniel Bennie when he switched sides.
Bennie was effective on the left, drawing an early yellow card for Aidan Simmons right off the bat. When the Glory gained a bit of control, he was at the forefront of some good chances. His blocked shot went just wide and he set up David Williams’ well-hit strike, which was well-saved by Lawrence Thomas.
While the youngster did have a great chance in the second half kept out well, his impact on the right wasn’t as influential. Clisby’s experience played a role in this, but I think it also showed how he is more dangerous and unpredictable on the other side where he can cut in on his preferred right foot.
Gorman played wide left in the second half and had a couple chances of his own, a blocked shot which looked to be heading goalward and a right-footed attempt dragged wide following a nice chain of passing involving Bennie, Taggart and Joel Anasmo.
For all the Glory’s work trying to find a go-ahead goal, it was the Western Sydney who found it against the run of play late on. Marcelo’s header in a crowded box fell to an unmarked Marcus Antonsson. His shot was saved by Sail but fell kindly to Brook to put away in an open goal.
Women crash out of the finals race
The fleeting hopes of a turnaround in form and a spot in the finals were put to rest in the last two weeks, thanks to consecutive away losses for Alex Epakis’ team.
An even contest in Sydney was decided by Sophie Harding early in the second half, pulling out an outrageous half-volley from outside the box from out of nowhere.
The Glory worked a couple of chances late in the game but none which caused any trouble for keeper Shamiran Khamis.
The loss meant the Glory had to beat Brisbane at Perry Park and hope for other results to go their way. In the end, they couldn’t get the job done, failing to score again in a 2-0 defeat.
First half goals from Kiyah Stephenson and Sharn Freier were enough for Brisbane to go ahead of the Glory on the ladder, although they were already out of finals contention before the match.
The Glory now sit 10th with one match left in their season against Melbourne City at home on Sunday afternoon.
They are still yet to win a game in 2024 and have the second worst attack in the league, only ahead of bottom placed Adelaide United.
The Wrap Up
Big games against the Wanderers yielded poor results for both sides. One team is officially out of the finals race, the other very unlikely to make it from here.
Better news off the field, with the announcement of La Vida Homes as the club’s principal partner and the appointment of Stan Lazaridis as the Football Director.
The men’s team should be well rested and ready for the final run of games, starting with an away trip to Melbourne this weekend.
The Victory at AAMI Park awaits. Tony Popovic has got his team sitting in 4th, but with the likes of Sydney, Western Sydney and City not too far behind.
An improved start would be a positive, and better set-piece delivery compared to last week, which was poor in comparison to other games this season.
It’s another golden boot battle; a main event clash between Bruno Fornaroli and Adam Taggart, equal top of the goal scoring charts with 15.
The Glory have kept a clean in their last two games against the Victory at AAMI Park, another one on Sunday could set up a huge second away win of the season.