A clash of epic proportions was served up at Perth’s Sam Kerr Football Centre on August 3rd as hosts Perth Glory edged out fellow A-League Men side Melbourne City 5-4 after extra-time to seal their spot in the 2024 Australia Cup round of 16.
The capacity crowd, undeterred by the chilly conditions, was treated to a thrilling game where Glory staged a remarkable comeback from being 4-2 down midway through the second half, with Nathanael Blair securing the decisive goal just before the extra-time half-time whistle.
Abdul Faisal opened the scoring for the hosts early on, netting his third goal in two games. After Max Caputo equalized for City with a header, substitute Adam Taggart restored Glory’s lead just two minutes into the second half.
City quickly responded with two deflected goals from Harry Politidis and Andrew Nabbout, but Blair soon narrowed the gap, and Adam Bugarija headed home two minutes from the end of regular time to level the match at 4-4.
Riding the momentum from that late equalizer, David Zdrilic’s side pressed forward in extra-time, eventually finding their reward 14 minutes in when a Taras Gomulka corner found Blair, who poked the ball over the line.
The stage for this exhilarating contest was set as early as the third minute when Faisal found space just inside the City box, shifted the ball onto his left foot, and fired a shot past James Nieuwenhuizen.
To their credit, the Victorians responded well and equalized with Caputo’s deft glancing header from a Politidis cross.
The second half began with the same intensity as the first, with former Suwon Samsung Bluewings danger man Taggart demonstrating the form that won him last season’s A-League Golden Boot, slotting home a cut-back from Taras Gomulka.
City, however, struck back again, scoring twice more, with both Politidis’ and Nabbout’s shots deflecting off defenders to beat Oli Sail.
At that point, Glory seemed to face an insurmountable challenge, but they rose to it. Blair headed in a Gomulka corner at the far post, and with the home fans roaring, Bugarija soon followed by heading a Josh Risdon cross into the far corner to make it 4-4.
Glory’s threat from set-pieces was evident throughout the match, and when Gomulka delivered another precise corner in the first period of extra-time, Blair lunged in to force the ball past Nieuwenhuizen, securing a memorable victory.