RYAN Williams and Jack Clisby have unleashed mesmerising strikes as Perth Glory claimed a thrilling 2-1 win over COVID-hit Western United in A League Men action<\/p>\n
Williams opened the scoring in the 14th minute of Saturday night’s match in Perth when his stabbed cross from the byline lobbed over goalkeeper Jamie Young and sneaked in for a goal.<\/p>\n
More celebrations erupted in the 52nd minute when Clisby unleashed a spellbinding curling strike from the edge of the box with his non-preferred right boot to make it 2-0.<\/p>\n
Former Glory midfielder Neil Kilkenny pulled a goal back for Western in the 83rd minute when his long-range free kick went in untouched, with the goal sparking plenty of late drama.<\/p>\n
The defending champions almost equalised in the seventh minute of stoppage time, only for a powerful header to rebound off the woodwork and into the body of Glory goalkeeper Liam Reddy.<\/p>\n
Western defender Leo Lacroix was then shown a red card moments later for a foul on Glory substitute Matthew Hatch.<\/p>\n
John Aloisi’s men entered the match without Alessandro Diamanti, Ben Garuccio and Tomoki Imai due to COVID.<\/p>\n
Aloisi said his side were unlucky not to at least come away with a point.<\/p>\n
“They got a goal from a cross that ended up floating in from the wind into the top corner. It’s a freak goal,” Aloisi said.<\/p>\n
“Then in the second half, I don’t think I’ve seen Clisby score with his right foot before, but it was a very good finish.<\/p>\n
“But we felt we had enough chances to at least get something out of the game.”<\/p>\n
Western United, with just four points to show from seven games, dropped to last.<\/p>\n
Glory created the better chances in the first half, and it was Williams who opened the scoring with an outrageous effort.<\/p>\n
Debate will rage as to whether it was meant to be a pass or a shot, but the end result was all that mattered to Glory’s delirious fans.<\/p>\n
Western’s best chance in the first half fell to Lachlan Wales, who was left cursing himself after sending a free header wide of the target in the 41st minute.<\/p>\n
The visitors’ frustrations were summed up by Connor Pain, who sent liquid flying everywhere when he kicked a drink bottle in frustration after being subbed off in the 62nd minute.<\/p>\n
Kilkenny ensured there would be a nervy finish when his free kick caused confusion and went in untouched.<\/p>\n
But the woodwork came to Glory’s rescue in the dying moments of the contest.<\/p>\n
The COVID outbreak among the Western United camp is set to be exacerbated with further impacts on the team list.<\/p>\n
John Aloisi’s men are on high alert for more COVID-19 cases after Diamanti, Garuccio and Imai out for the match in Perth with the virus.<\/p>\n
Further compounding their woes, defender Lacroix will miss next Sunday’s home clash with Western Sydney after his red card.<\/p>\n
Lacroix was given his marching orders for what looked like a swinging arm to the head of Hatch, and there’s a chance the automatic one-match penalty could be increased.<\/p>\n
Defender Josh Risdon will also miss the Wanderers clash after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season.<\/p>\n
Aloisi is hopeful the club can contain its COVID-19 outbreak.<\/p>\n
“Our physio has got COVID as well, so he stayed back in Melbourne,” Aloisi said. “We’re hoping there’s not more. It’s just the way it is at the moment.<\/p>\n
“It’s frustrating, but it is what it is. We’ll have to deal with the situation.”<\/p>\n
Steven Lustica will miss at least two more months with the hamstring injury he suffered before the World Cup break.<\/p>\n
But Mali international Tongo Doumbia made a successful cameo off the bench against Glory in his first match since injuring his hamstring in round two.<\/p>\n
Aloisi is confident his team can turn their fortunes around.<\/p>\n
“Eventually those players will come back. There’s still a lot of football to be played,” he said.<\/p>\n
“The football we’re playing is good. There’s things we need to improve on. But the majority of the time we’re dominating.<\/p>\n
“Once we get everyone fully fit and back then I’m sure we’ll win a lot of games.”<\/p>\n