Western United have pulled off an incredible upset win over Perth Glory, with 21-year-old Jordan Lauton’s bicycle kick stunner sealing a 3-2 win over Perth Glory at HBF Park on Friday night.
The visitors trailed 2-1 heading into stoppage time after Adam Taggart and Jarrod Carluccio scored either side of a Matthew Grimaldi equaliser. Glory held their 2-1 lead into the 91st minute before Tate Russell equalised, setting the scene for Lauton to write the headlines with a remarkable bicycle kick in the fifth minute of added time.
Lauton was sent off following his incredible match-winner for taking his shirt off in celebration, having already received a yellow card after coming off the bench in the second half.
Glory were just minutes away from clinching a drought-snapping home win, which would have been their first since February 2024. But the late collapse extended the home side’s losing streak to seven games – an equal Isuzu UTE A-League record (Brisbane Roar 2024-25, New Zealand Knights 2005) – whilst extending Western’s winning streak to four games.
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Perth took a first-half lead at HBF Park but not before surviving a series of early scares.
Noah Botic had a quickfire double chance in the third minute but Oli Sail stood tall to deny the young forward on both occasions.
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Grimaldi was next to threaten for Western when Botic’s smart flick exposed space behind centre-backs Andriano Lebib and Tomislav Mrcela to send the Western midfielder sprinting through on goal.
As Grimaldi entered the box it seemed certain he would score but Sail produced yet another sensational save to keep Glory level at 0-0.
Teenage midfielder Jaylan Pearman made his Isuzu UTE A-League debut for Perth on Friday night and caught the eye in a superb first half with a series of neat touches.
Thrust into the starting XI by David Zdrilic, the 18-year-old repaid the faith shown in him by the Glory head coach with an outstanding assist for Taggart who put the home side ahead in the 29th minute.
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Glory faced Western in Unite Round earlier this season and in the first meeting between the two sides, took a one-goal lead before shipping three unanswered goals in a 3-1 defeat.
After scoring first on Friday night, Perth suffered a similar lapse as Grimaldi equalised within three minutes of Taggart’s opener.
But Glory managed to prevent the floodgates from opening on this occasion, and held firm to get to half-time level at 1-1.
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Chasing a brace, Taggart went centimetres from restoring Glory’s lead in the 65th minute after Nicholas Pennington’s floated ball in behind Western’s defence found the Socceroos striker in space.
Taggart’s deflected shot went just wide of the bottom-right corner and Lebib went similarly close from the resulting corner as Glory turned up the heat at HBF Park.
Chances to Taggart and Lebib spelled danger for Western and just minutes later, the hosts made the most of the momentum when Carluccio tore down the byline and slotted a composed finish past Western keeper Matthew Sutton to put his side back on top with his second Isuzu UTE A-League goal for the club, and his first since January 2024.
Glory were on the cusp of a drought-snapping win at home before Russell equalised at 2-2 in the first minute of added time.
Russell’s dramatic equaliser looked set to be the final goal of a seesawing game – but then, up stepped Lauton.
Facing away from goal when Thurgate’s delivery entered the box, Lauton swung his right foot at the ball and buried his very first Isuzu UTE A-League goal into the back of the net.
“No way! No way!” Exclaimed Network 10 commentator Teo Pellizzeri as Lauton was engulfed by Western players in a pile-on celebration.
“Jordan Lauton scores the goal of a lifetime! Western United win it in the most spectacular fashion!
“Heartbreak like you’ve never seen for Perth. Western United have scored twice in stoppage time, and Jordan Lauton has put himself in the pantheon of great A-League goals!”
“It’s incredible stuff from the youngster,” replied co-commentator Erik Paartalu.
“21 years old, academy product – you can’t miss him with that hairstyle! Now make us really remember you. Jordan Lauton, living and breathing this moment. What a time to score a goal like that – unbelievable!”
