Western Sydney Wanderers have moved to within one point of the top six with a 2-1 win over Perth Glory at HBF Park on Tuesday night.
In former Glory coach Alen Stajcic’s first game back in Perth following his off-season departure to the Wanderers, the Western Sydney boss took all three points off his former side in a hard-fought contest.
Glory defender Andriano Lebib was credited with a fourth-minute own goal after Tomislav Mrcela’s miscued clearance diverted off the back of the Perth defender to give Western Sydney an early lead.
The hosts struck back just after half-time through captain Adam Taggart but just 11 minutes later, the Wanderers went back in front through Zac Sapsford’s fourth goal of the 2024-25 season.
Taggart and Glory defender Zach Lisolajski had late chances to equalise but neither player managed to convert as Glory suffered their 10th defeat of the season.
The Wanderers, meanwhile, returned to winning ways after a loss and a draw in their last two games. Stajcic’s side now have 18 points on the board, one point less than Melbourne Victory in sixth.
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Glory came into Tuesday night’s clash with the Wanderers high on confidence after their first home win of the season on Saturday but all momentum quickly ground to a halt when an own goal just four minutes after kick-off put the visitors ahead at HBF Park.
The Wanderers attacked through Jack Clisby whose low cross was met by Brandon Borrello with a first-time shot – and although Oli Sail made the save, a slip from Tomislav Mrcela led to the defender’s clearance deflecting off Lebib and over the line.
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Glory were then struck by injury in the 14th minute when Nicholas Pennington hit the deck and required an early substitution; Brandon O’Neill came off the bench to replace the injured midfielder in the middle of the park.
Teenage forward Will Freney was handed his starting debut for Glory on Tuesday night and the 19-year-old did his best to bring his side back into the game with a speculative shot from the edge of the box which sliced right off his foot and well wide of the top-right corner.
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The Wanderers gave Perth intermittent reminders of their attacking danger through the first half, highlighted by a long-range Borrello attempt which flashed just wide of the target and a header diverted by Bozhidar Kraev over the bar.
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Glory substitute O’Neill had a low, driven shot from distance saved by Wanderers keeper Lawrence Thomas and the hosts had a penalty claim for handball waved off by the officials just before the break but neither side added to the scoresheet as the first half ended with Western Sydney on top.
But after the Wanderers scored early in the first half, it was Glory’s turn in the second.
Josh Risdon created the opportunity for Taggart, swinging a low cross to the front post and inviting Taggart to get ahead of his marker and sweep a first-time shot into the back of the net.
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Glory’s parity at 1-1 lasted just 11 minutes before Sapsford fired the Wanderers back into the lead.
It was all too easy for Western Sydney to scored their second of the night; Sail’s goal kick fell directly to Nicolas Milanovic on the halfway line who sent Sapsford running in on goal; from there, the young Wanderers forward drove past Glory defender Zach Lisolajski and the outrushing Sail to bury the ball into an unguarded net.
Glory had two big opportunities to get back on level terms but both went begging. Lisolajski received the first equalising opportunity but headed over the bar from inside the six-yard box; then, with 10 minutes of regular time to play, Taggart pounced on a loose ball in the box but the Glory captain couldn’t keep his effort down.
