Perth Glory’s first competitive game under new boss David Zdrilic saw a 4-2 victory over Brisbane Roar in the Australia Cup play-offs. This is what we learned from the clash.
If you want to make judgements on one game alone, then Perth Glory are back and a force to be reckoned with in 2024-25.
It’s a new era in Western Australia. Not only are there new owners, but a new coach with a new philosophy and new players leading the charge at a club that finished bottom of the Isuzu UTE A-League last season.
On Tuesday night – Perth’s first competitive fixture under David Zdrilic – Glory caught the eye in their 4-2 rout of 10-man Brisbane Roar in an Australia Cup play-off as they qualified for the Round of 32 for the first time since 2019.
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Veteran David Williams cancelled out Keegan Jelicic’s opener for Perth, who are adopting a high-octane brand of football and relentless pressing style, but it was two new recruits who highlighted the new approach with Zdrilic at the helm.
Abdul Faisal ignited his Glory career with a quick-fire brace in the second half. The 19-year-old has been lured from Macarthur FC, where he made headlines with hat-tricks in back-to-back matches for Bulls FC Academy in Football NSW League One this season.
Glory Football Director Stan Lazaridis also likened Faisal to Liverpool superstar Mo Salah.
Another new signing caught the eye in the victory in Darwin was Nathaniel Blair, the 20-year-old forward who recently made the move from Western Sydney Wanderers.
Perth now look ahead to a Round of 32 tie with Melbourne City on August 3.
“For me, it was very pleasing, the performance over the result,” Zdrilic said via Perth Glory.
“Because we’ve come in here trying to change the whole culture of the club on the back of a very different playing style and football philosophy.
“I think you saw all of that come alive. There were so many good elements, including their ability to keep up that intensity after just three weeks of training.
“I thought it was wave after wave of pressure from us in the first 15 minutes or so and we had quite a lot of shots on goal.
“We conceded a goal against the run of play, but after a little patch, the boys were able to recover and score a very good equaliser before the break.
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“Second half we came out and I thought we had some very good moments and after the sending off and being able to get in front, the good thing was we were able to go and get the third and the fourth.
“There are plenty of things we need to talk about and work on, but there were a lot of good signs and the main thing is that we put in a performance to show that we are a different side this year, that we have a different playing style.
“The players have embraced it and it was great to get the win off the back of that.”
