Not much tops a last minute screamer in front of the active supporters at home to win a game against the top team.
Saturday’s 2-1 triumph over Auckland was much needed, not only to arrest the recent dip in form but to keep pace with the middle of the pack.
It also heavily changed the scenario heading into today’s clash with Mile Sterjovski’s Bulls. Find a way to beat them on their home turf again, and depending on the match prior, the Glory could leapfrog three teams into the top six.
The teams who consistently perform well will be the ones who play finals football in April and May. The Glory haven’t strung consecutive wins together since the beginning of December, having failed to back up their wins against Melbourne City and the Central Coast Mariners.
It’s high stakes football on Friday night. The teams have improved since their previous meeting, which is sure to make this encounter an entertaining watch, regardless of who you follow.
Who comes in for Bozinovski?
Gone just as quickly as he appeared, Rhys Bozinovski’s stay in Perth came to an abrupt end on Wednesday, moving to the Eredivisie for Heracles Almelo.
The 21-year-old made 14 starts for the Glory, making an immediate impact in the centre of the park alongside William Freney and more recently with Giovanni De Abreu.
His exit leaves a gap to be filled. Freney returned to the starting lineup in the win against Auckland, and is likely to retain his spot as one half of the central pairing.
Based on the squad selected this week, there are three possibilities for the vacant midfield position. One is De Abreu; the other two are Nicholas Pennington and Callum Timmins.
Timmins has been out with an injury, and although he has been training regularly according to Adam Griffiths, a starting spot straight up is unlikely.
That leaves Pennington as the other option, and the one I would be going for. The return to fitness of Lachie Wales and the impressive showings from Stef Colakovski should mean Pennington’s services as a wide player aren’t required.
As he stated on The Far Post Perth podcast, his preferred position is in the middle as a box-to-box midfielder. Putting Freney with a more experienced partner is a smarter option, particularly against a side who possess some quality midfielders.
Start Kucharski or use as a super sub?
The availability of the majority of the squad gives Adam Griffiths some impressive weapons to use off the bench when the times comes for it.
Seb Despotovski and Lachie Wales weren’t even called upon when the Glory were chasing the game on Saturday. Instead, the manager turned to Jaiden Kucharski and Stef Colakovski, who combined for the winning goal in the 90th minute.
Kucharski’s brilliant touch and finish for the equaliser, combined with his superb strike from distance to win the game, puts him firmly in contention to start today’s fixture in Campbelltown.
His runs in behind are valuable to the attack, given the elder statesmen in Tom Lawrence and Adam Taggart don’t have the burst of speed to burn defenders like Kucharski does.
Finding the balance on the team sheet and easing players back into the action is what Griffiths has to manage with multiple players returning to selection contention. For the different dimension he adds to the frontline, Kucharski from the go seems like a no-brainer.
And for the Glory girls…
Can they match it toe-to-toe with the Phoenix?
In the A-League, the Jets have been the box office team for viewers to tune into. Bev Priestman’s Phoenix are the equivalent in the Dub.
A quick look at goal difference will tell you stats wise Wellington are the best team in the league. They’ve scored the most and conceded the least, bolting up the table in a seven game run featuring five wins, in which 23 of their 26 goals have been scored.
Stephen Peters said his side are best when they’re on the front foot. Doing so against Wellington will be risky, but he is right.
Going in with a positive mindset and playing positively from the off is the Glory’s best chance of leaving New Zealand with valuable points.
Improvement in possession is also a requirement. Despite having 61% possession vs Sydney, the Glory had 11 less shots, and only five in the box compared to Sydney’s 17.
Allowing the Phoenix 20+ shots is a recipe for disaster. Less mistakes on the ball to avoid counter attacks will help in that regard. Overall summary – the Glory will have to play at their very best to get something out of this one.
Predicted lineup
Lawrence – Taggart
Colakovski – Freney – Pennington – Kucharski
Sutton – Kaltak – Wootton – Shamoon
Sutton
All images courtesy of Tom McCarthy.
