Western United remain hot on the heels of Isuzu UTE A-League league leaders Auckland FC after defeating bottom side Perth Glory 3-1 at Ironbark Fields to register their fifth win in a row.
Western United flew out of the blocks and scored the game’s first goal in just the third minute; midfielder Rhys Bozinovski lashing home the opener from an early corner to give Western the perfect start on Saturday.
Despite the home side dominating the contest, Perth Glory levelled things up in Tarneit thanks to a stunning strike from Jaylan Pearman, who bent a brilliant effort into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Perth’s parity didn’t last long though as Western soon re-took the lead; midfielder Taras Golmulka credited with the own goal having just come on after a mix-up inside the box involving defender Yuto Misao and keeper Oli Sail.
Western they killed off their opponents in the 86th minute as substitute Ramy Najjarine scored his first Isuzu UTE A-League goal since 2023, curling home his side’s third goal of the evening after some excellent work by Michael Ruhs.
The result cements Western’s spot in second on the ladder as they narrow the gap to Auckland FC at the top of the league down to five points while extending their club-record feat of five straight games with three or more goals in each of them.
As for Perth Glory, David Zdrilic’s side remain dead last in the Isuzu UTE A-League after conceding another three goals, however they remain level on points with Brisbane Roar, albeit having played two games more.
The home side got off to a flying start at Ironbark Fields as midfielder Bozinovski bagged his fourth goal in the space of three games.
Lurking at the back post from an early corner, Bozinovski initially saw his powerful shot well-saved by goalkeeper Sail but there was nothing the Perth custodian could do to prevent the 21-year-old from lashing home the opener from the rebound.
Against the run of play, Perth did have the ball in the back of the net soon after thanks to an excellent header from Will Freney however the goal was correctly chalked off after replays showed the midfielder had clearly strayed beyond the last defender.
Denied on that occasion, Freney went close again to bagging his first goal in the Isuzu UTE A-League as his deflected effort flew narrowly wide of the upright after good work from club captain Adam Taggart inside the box.
Despite those chances though it was Western who were still in control of the game and it would have been 2-0 in the 36th minute were it not for Sail, who produced an excellent save to deny Matthew Grimaldi.
Western went close again, this time on the approach to half-time, as striker Hiroshi Ibusuki was played through on goal however the Japanese tried to be too cute with the finish and Sail easily read the striker’s attempted chip.
Looking to start the second-half with more purpose, the away side attacked Western from the off and forced goalkeeper Matthew Sutton into a smart save as he palmed away Trent Ostler’s powerful shot.
With the game bouncing from end-to-end, Western responded with an effort of their own as Grimaldi cut inside on his left foot but sent his curling effort over the bar.
But for all their dominance in the game, Western were soon pegged back in Tarneit thanks to a moment of magic.
Receiving the ball on the edge of the box, Perth forward Pearman side-stepped one Western challenge before then curling a stunning right-footed effort beyond the despairing dive of Matthew Sutton and into the top corner to stun the home crowd.
That goal temporarily moved Perth off the foot of the ladder however they soon returned to last place following a defensive mis-hap that will have left coach David Zdrilic shaking his head in dispair.
Having initially cleared the ball from the box, Perth then failed to deal with the follow up attack and Western ultimately profited from a freak piece of play which saw Gomulka’s attempted clearance loop towards goal and then knocked into his own net by Sail in what was a defensive horror show.
With five minutes left of regular time to play at Ironbark Fields, the home side then wrapped up the three points.
Out-muscling Perth defender Tomi Mrcela on halfway, Ruhs then set up a three-on-one counter in Western’s favour and after side-stepping the last Perth defender he teed up fellow sub Najjarine to curl home Western’s third of the match to seal the win.
Co-leader of the race for the Golden Boot, striker Noah Botic had a quiet night against Perth but almost bagged a fourth for Western United but the 23-year-old’s low shot flew past the far post.
