Perth Glory’s seven-game losing streak at home has come to an end, after a stunning 1-0 win over former league leaders Auckland FC at HBF Park on Saturday night.
Teenage midfielder Jaylan Pearman was the star of the show in Perth, scoring his first Isuzu UTE A-League goal in just his third appearance for Glory – and his stellar first-half strike proved the difference as Glory won for just the second time in the 2024-25 season.
Auckland debutant Adama Coulibaly was sent off deep into second-half stoppage time for a tackle on Andriano Lebib who had dribbled the entire length of the pitch on the counter attack and was preparing to take a shot on goal.
Glory had lost a club record seven consecutive games at HBF Park prior to Saturday night’s clash with the Black Knights but, having survived a series of second-half scares, managed to see out five minutes of added time to defeat the former league leaders 1-0, and deprive Steve Corica’s side the chance to jump back to the top of the table.
Auckland were jumped by both Adelaide United and Melbourne City in the Isuzu UTE A-League standings after respective wins to both sides in earlier games on Saturday. Glory, meanwhile, now have a six-point buffer to last-placed Brisbane Roar.
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Glory rode their luck on Saturday night but the hosts produced plenty of quality moments, too – none more so than the touch of class supplied by 18-year-old Pearman who described his first-half goal as one of the best he’s ever scored.
“It feels amazing, honestly,” Pearman told Network 10 post-game.
“It’s one of the best strikes I’ve ever done in my life, to be honest! And what a time it (came) at. It was so good. I feel amazing!”
“It’s such an amazing turning point, the first (home) win, can now kick on and keep going, and hopefully keep progressing and get more wins from now.”
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The odds were well and truly stacked against 12th-placed Glory before kick-off but the home side ended the first half with a one-goal advantage – although they hit the back of the net twice before the break, with Jarrod Carluccio’s early strike ruled out for an offside call on Trent Ostler.
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But 20 minutes later, Glory struck again – and this time, the goal counted. Pearman, who made his Isuzu UTE A-League debut just eight prior to the Auckland clash, scored his very first league goal in some style to put the hosts into a surprise lead.
Carluccio – who had his early goal disallowed – did all the hard work to set up Pearman’s chance to score, winning the ball on the edge of the box before teeing up the 18-year-old to blast his first-ever A-Leagues goal into the top-right corner.
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Glory came out for the second half with a one-goal lead and after an hour of play at HBF Park, a piece of desperate defending from Josh Risdon denied Auckland a near-certain equaliser.
A dangerous early cross from Jake Brimmer caused chaos in Perth’s defensive box as Max Mata’s close-range header was well-saved by Oli Sail; Jesse Randall’s follow-up attempt was snuffed out by Risdon who leapt to Glory’s rescue.
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Auckland ramped up the pressure as they looked to find a way back into the contest and should have been back on level terms in the 68th minute when Mata skied a glorious chance over the bar from the edge of the six-yard box.
Mata sunk to his knees with his head in his hands as the gilt-edged chance went begging.
Down the other end, Glory had chances of their own to double the advantage.
Captain Adam Taggart came to life just beyond the 75-minute mark and had two looks on goal in quick succession; both were well saved by Auckland FC keeper Alex Paulsen, but reminded the visitors of the threat posed by the Socceroos spearhead should Glory receive further opportunities on the counter-attack.
Auckland forward Guillermo May sent a close-range shot over the crossbar under pressure from Andriano Lebib in the final minutes of regular time, and as Glory escaped that particular moment without conceding, Glory players, fans and coaches took a collective breath as they stared down five minutes of extra time.
Last time out at HBF Park, Glory held a one-goal lead over Western United after 90 minutes, and somehow lost 3-2. But there was to be no late collapse this time; Coulibaly’s late red card made the end result a near-certainty as Glory held on to full-time and clinched a surprise win over a title contender.
