WATCH: Perth Glory break drought to advance to Round of 32

Tim Gibson 1721734943,1721780717

Perth Glory have advanced to the Round of 32 for the first time since 2019 in a six-goal thriller against Brisbane Roar in Darwin on Tuesday night.

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Brisbane Roar FC - 2 (Keegan JELACIC 17’, Adam ZIMARINO 90+3’)
Perth Glory FC - 4 (David WILLIAMS 38’, Abdullah FAISAL 52’ penalty 55’, Nathanael BLAIR 65’)

Perth Glory made an eye-catching start to their Australia Cup campaign with a convincing and well-earned 4-2 win over Brisbane Roar on Tuesday night at Darwin Football Stadium.

Perth started the match with great energy as experienced forward David Williams put the Roar backline under pressure, testing Macklin Freke’s glove work on a couple of occasions.

However, the Roar grabbed the lead in one of their first forays forward. Keegan Jalacic executed a neat touch-and-finish from the edge of the box, picking out the top right corner.

Keegan Jalacic executed a neat touch-and-finish from the edge of the box, picking out the top right corner.


This setback did not deter Perth, and in the 38th minute, Williams grabbed the equaliser for the side. Joshua Risdon latched onto a ball into the right of the box and drilled it across for Williams to tap home at the far post.

Despite a solid first half from Perth, they went into the sheds level with their opponents.

Perth continued this intensity in the second period and made the best possible start.

In the 52nd minute, Brisbane’s Corey Brown handled the ball on the line, was sent off, and Perth were awarded a penalty. Abdullah Faisal took responsibility and struck both posts before the ball trickled over the line.

Faisal showed his skill and trickery from the left and bagged another goal three minutes after his first, arrowing the ball into the top right corner.

Abdullah Faisal cored a brace in Perth Glory's 4-2 win over Brisbane


The Glory added a fourth goal in the 65th minute when Nathanael Blair stabbed in Williams' curling right-sided cross—the Western Sydney Wanderers youth product scoring on his debut for his new club.

Brisbane scored a consolation in stoppage time through Adam Zimarino who sent a well-placed effort past Glory goalkeeper Oli Sail - but it proved too little to late for the 10-man Roar. 

The Glory will now host Melbourne City at Sam Kerr Football Centre in Perth on Saturday, 3 August at 5:30pm local, 7:30pm AEST.

Newcastle Jets and Western United will playoff for the final spot in the Round of 32, also in Darwin, on Wednesday, 24 July. The winner will travel to Sydney to face Rockdale Ilinden FC on Wednesday, 31 July at 7:30pm AEST.