Despite the joy of Perth Glory securing their first win of the season against Brisbane Roar last week, the optimism quickly faded last night as Macarthur cruised to a commanding 3-0 victory at HBF Park, delivering a sobering reality check.
David Zdrilic’s side began the match on a surprisingly positive note, much to the delight of the home crowd. The Glory played with clear intent, showcasing a relentless desire to press and hunt for possession. In the opening exchanges, they were the more threatening team, consistently unsettling Macarthur, who struggled to find their rhythm.
The Glory’s strategy was evident – they aimed to exploit the space in behind Macarthur’s defensive line, relying on long balls to the likes of Trent Ostler and Adam Taggart. The approach looked promising until disaster struck in the 13th minute. David Williams, while stretching for a shot, suffered a severe knee injury that forced him off the pitch, abruptly halting the team’s momentum.
The injury cast a shadow over the game, as the previously energetic crowd fell silent, and the players seemed to lose the extra spark in their performance. Macarthur capitalised on the shift, reminding the Glory of their ruthless efficiency with a well-executed opening goal from Jed Drew.
A promising transition for Perth saw Trent Ostler tee up Adam Bugarija at the edge of the box. However, the young midfielder’s shot was blocked by Odin Jones, sparking a swift counterattack from Macarthur. Marin Jakoliš delivered a perfectly timed first-time ball over the top of the Glory defence. Defender Riley Warland’s mistimed lunge allowed Drew to break through and calmly slot the ball past Cam Cook in a one-on-one situation.
It was a masterclass in precision and efficiency from Macarthur. While the Glory up to that point probed and pushed for a goal, the Bulls demonstrated their clinical edge, converting their limited chances into decisive moments.
Amateur defending reared its ugly head again just five minutes later. A looping, chaotic ball from Valère Germain found its way toward Kealey Adamson. Despite having multiple opportunities to clear the danger, Perth Glory’s defence faltered, leaving Jed Drew free to capitalise and double Macarthur’s lead. While it was a composed finish from the young winger, the sequence starkly highlighted the costly nature of Glory’s defensive errors and Macarthur’s clinical ability to punish them.
Striker Adam Taggart thought he had pulled one back for the hosts, only for his goal to be ruled out for offside – a frustrating moment that epitomised the night for Glory, where nothing seemed to go their way.
By the time the second half kicked off, it was evident that much of the home side’s spirit had been drained. Midway through the half, commentator Teo Pellizzeri’s verdict summed it up succinctly: “Game, set, and match”, as Ariath Piol delivered the final blow, sealing a 3-0 victory for Macarthur and compounding Glory’s misery.
The third goal was another product of Glory’s defensive lapses. Adam Bugarija was caught in possession, sparking a swift Bulls counterattack. Marin Jakoliš slipped a perfectly weighted pass through to Piol, who finished with confidence, nutmegging Cam Cook to put the game beyond doubt.
At full-time, the boos echoed around HBF Park from the fans who stayed until the end, while many others had already packed up and left in frustration. It was another bitterly disappointing performance from the Glory, as the team’s wait for a home win extended yet again, with the last one at HBF Park dating back to February this year, ironically against Brisbane Roar.
Historically a fortress and a dependable source of points, HBF Park has become anything but for the Glory this season. After four home games, David Zdrilic’s side remains winless and, alarmingly, goalless on their own turf. Compounding matters is the defensive frailty, with the team conceding an average of 3.5 goals per home match.
Should the manager face more scrutiny? Perhaps, but Zdrilic isn’t solely responsible. The entire team – coaches and players alike – must shoulder the blame. A team’s performance cannot hinge on avoiding setbacks such as conceding early or losing a key player to injury. There needs to be resilience, unconditional belief in the game plan, and trust among the players. Right now, that cohesion and collective effort are glaringly absent.
While the Glory showed flashes of promise against Brisbane, it’s worth noting the well-documented dysfunction of their opponents that day. Against more organised sides, the cracks in the Glory’s structure and mentality have been ruthlessly exposed.
For fans, there is little incentive to attend games if the effort, performance, and results on display remain as underwhelming as they have been. Despite an improved crowd turnout compared to the 4-0 thrashing by the Jets in their previous home game, the team has yet to prove they can compete consistently over 90 minutes. A brief 15-minute spell of positivity cannot be the benchmark for acceptable performance.
Looking ahead, the Perth Glory will face an in-form Western United at HBF Park next Friday. John Aloisi’s side has demonstrated their ability to win tough matches on the road, with impressive results against Sydney FC and Auckland FC. It will be a stern test for Zdrilic and co., one that will demand far greater focus, resilience, and unity if they hope to give the members and fans something to cheer about.
