A-League Men: Perth Glory’s first match under David Zdrilic ends in disastrous 6-1 defeat to Macarthur FC
New Perth coach David Zdrilic has endured a nightmare first A-League Men’s game in charge, with Glory embarrassed by a slick Macarthur FC in a 6-1 rout at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
Zdrilic’s first league match in charge was talked up as the start of a new era, but the horrific defensive woes which embarrassed the club at the end of last season reared their ugly head once more as Perth found themselves down 5-0 at half-time.
The Glory have now conceded 30 goals in their past five league games stretching back to last season. For comparison, Wellington only shipped 26 goals in 27 games last season.
Jed Drew and Jake Hollman benefited from blunders to make it 2-0 inside the opening 10 minutes, Tomi Uskok added another after some good work from Marin Jaklois, and then Jakolis twice found the net himself before the break.
Germain added a sixth after half-time following some more abject defending, before debutant Adam Bugarija nabbed a consolation strike.
For all the talk about Perth’s high-pressing plan under Zdrilic, on too many occasions their first phase of pressure was negated and bypassed, their midfield was pedestrian in and out of possession and the defence dismal once the ball got into the final third.
Hollman and Germain consistently found time and space while Perth fielded four natural centre-backs in their back four with Josh Risdon out injured.
Camera IconMarin Jakolis celebrates a goal. Credit: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images
Three of those defenders — Kaelen Majekodunmi, Andriano Lebib and Zach Lisolajski — were under the age of 21 and had played a combined 17 games, and their inexperience showed, as wingers Drew and Jakolis had field days.
There was palpable excitement from Glory fans about Zdrilic’s first A-League game, but they were brought crashing back to down to earth just seven minutes in when Luke Bodnar inexplicably passed the ball directly back to Hollman, whose shot was saved but Drew fired home.
Three minutes late, any optimism about Perth’s defence improving over the off-season was washed away when Lebib and Majekodunmi were caught ball-watching as Drew skipped past Lisolajski’s challenge and picked out an unmarked Hollman.
By the 21st minute, it was 3-0 as Jakolis wriggled past two defenders, played a one-two with Liam Rose, beat another two defenders – all inside a crowded penalty box – before firing a shot which ricocheted to Uskok to rifle into the net.
The ringing cowbells in the Bulls’ crowd were akin to a death rattle, and Zdrilic would have been furious as a quick free-kick bypassed Brandon O’Neill and Taras Gomulka, and Jakolis cut inside an out-of-position Majekodunmi to curl home and make it 4-0.
Camera IconAdam Bugarija scored Glory’s consolation goal. Credit: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images
Not yet done embarrassing Perth, Jakolis made it 5-0 on the stroke of half-time when Valerie Germain’s through ball found the run of the winger and he slotted home with Lebib and Majekodunmi chasing his shadow.
Perth showed a bit of initial fight after the restart, and Adam Taggart, having had a first-half goal ruled out for offside, was denied once more by the linesman’s flag by the barest of margins after substitute Bugarija’s clever first touch.
But the defensive woes persisted and in the 61st minute, Germain ghosted past some statuesque Glory defending to poke home a cross for 6-0.
There was some respite for Glory, with Bugarija finding the net after his strike looped over Filip Kurto in the 73rd minute.
But further salt was rubbed into the wound when substitute Nikola Mileusnic was forced off with an apparent hamstring injury shortly after coming off the bench, forcing Perth to finish the game with 10 men.
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