Perth Glory have booked their spot in the 2025 Hahn Australia Cup Round of 32 after knocking off the Central Coast Mariners 3-2 in Darwin.
Trailing by two at the midway point of the match, goals from Jaylan Pearman and club captain Adam Taggart dragged the Glory back on level terms ensuring the game would head into extra-time with the scores locked at 2-2.
Having now seized the momentum Glory substitute Adam Bugarija made it 3-2 to Perth in the first-half of extra time before goalkeeper Oli Sail produced a fine penalty save to deny Mikael Doka as the clock ticked down in Darwin.
The result sees Perth qualify directly for the the Round of 32 in the 2025 Australia Cup later this year while the Mariners will miss out on playing in the competition altogether.
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Fresh off their 2-0 win over Wellington Phoenix on the final weekend of the Isuzu UTE A-League season the Glory travelled to the Northern Territory in good spirits, although they found themselves with a mountain to climb at the break.
Caught in two minds, young defender Kaelan Majekodunmi attempted to clear a Doka free-kick into the box but inadvertently steered his clearance beyond goalkeeper Sail and into the back of the net in the 40th minute.
Before they knew it David Zdrilic’s side then found themselves two-nil down heading into half-time.
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Spinning away from his marker midway through the Perth half, Alou Kuol then careered towards the Glory backline before opening up his body and curling a precise low shot into the bottom corner to double the Mariners’ lead.
So often when Perth have needed a spark this season it’s teenage star Pearman who’s provided it and the young forward fired his side back into the game in the 59th minute in what is his final game for the club before heading overseas to join English Championship side QPR.
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Drifting into space inside the Mariners’ box, Pearman was then perfectly positioned to bag Glory’s first after volleying home Nikola Mileusnic’s headed ball back across the face of goal.
Having set-up one goal, Mileusnic then laid on another as the Glory levelled the match in the 65th minute through Taggart.
Receiving the ball out on the right, Mileusnic spotted the run of Taggart at the back post and whipped a glorious cross into the path of his teammate who did the rest; thumping a header past Dylan Peraic-Cullen after getting the wrong side of departing Mariners defender Brian Kaltak.
Perth then knocked on the door to find a late winner in regulation time and while they couldn’t find their third before the 90 minutes were up, they didn’t have to wait long before doing so in extra time.
After clearing an initial free-kick into the box the Mariners then failed to deal with the second ball back in and were made to pay; Taggart chesting the ball down and into the feet of Bugarija who spun and fired beyond the keeper to make it 3-2.
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Now chasing the game for the first time in the match, the Mariners were quite literally handed a lifeline in the second period of extra time after the referee awarded a penalty for handball.
Getting on the end of a cross into the box, Mariners sub Lucas Scicluna got his head to the ball which then flicked off the arm of defender Yuto Misao, contact that was deemed enough for a penalty to be awarded.
Ever reliable from the spot, Mariners playmaker Doka wouldn’t have any success in Darwin though as the Brazilian saw his well-taken spot kick brilliantly palmed away by the sprawling dive of Sail and the Glory held on to secure a 3-2 win and book their spot in the Round of 32.
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**Main image credits – FOOTBALL AUSTRALIA
