WATCH: Perth Glory defeat Melbourne City in nine goal, extra-time thriller

Kristian Bullock 1722688124,1722693583

Perth Glory will play in their first Round of 16 clash at the Australia Cup in 8 years, following an incredible 5-4 victory, breaking the modern record for goals in a single cup tie.

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The home side needed only three minutes to hit the scoring, with new signing Abdelelah Faisal catching out the Melbourne keeper at his near post before jumping toward the sideline fence to celebrate with his new supporters.

Melbourne City bounced back from that shock opening to the game, with promising talent Max Caputo timing his run to perfection, to head the ball home for an equaliser in the 36th minute.

New Glory manager David Zdrilic wasted no time at all in introducing star striker Adam Taggart into the match, with the Subway Socceroo substituted on straight after half-time to a load cheer from all in purple.

The Australian international could not have started any better, finding himself all alone on the penalty spot only a minute after coming on, before receiving the ball and calmly finishing past the out-stretched arm of Nieuwenhuizen.

However, in a similar manner to the first half, City quickly regained control of the match with a 52nd minute counter-attack by Caputo, finding the run of Harry Politidis who slipped the ball under Sail's left leg and into the net.

Ten minutes later, Andrew Nabbout found himself on the scoresheet with a trademark cut inside from the right wing with his shot deflecting off a Perth defender, looping over the keeper.

City extended their lead further in the 68th with Zane Schreiber producing a stunning strike from outside the box, shooting from the left corner of the 18-yards, into the opposite top-corner of the goal.

 

The Glory did not crawl into their shell however, and found a lot of joy attacking the right flank before crossing balls into the box for their tall forwards to attack.

Zdrilic again was rewarded for his changes with substitute Nathaniel Blair scoring from a header in the 74th minute to make it 3-4 before fellow substitute Adam Cardeno saw his 88th minute headed effort arch over the body of the City goalkeeper and in for an incredible equaliser.

The 4-4 scoreline was already the equal-highest of the modern Australia Cup era, but the supporters inside the Sam Kerr Football Centre were still anticipating a ninth goal to complete the record with both sides unrelenting in their charges upfield.

The winner came fittingly, through a right-sided cross, and again, from a substitute. Nathaniel Blair became the hero in purple and orange, taking the ball down in a crowded penalty area and taping it through the sea of bodies and into the City goal.

Perth Glory: 5 (Faisal 3', Taggart 47', Blair 74' 114', Cardeno 88')
Melbourne City: 4 (Caputo 36', Politidis 52', Nabbout 64', Schreiber 68')
Date: Saturday August 3rd 2024 
Venue: Sam Kerr Football Centre, Queens Park, WA

Perth Glory: 1. Oliver Sail (GK), 4. Luke Bodnar (22. Adam Taggart 46'), 5. Lachlan Barr, 6. Brandon O'Neill (29. Jacob Muir 113'), 9. David Williams (c) (16. Adam Cardeno 70'), 12. Taras Gomulka, 15. Zach Lisolajski (26. Khoa Ngo 105'), 17. Jarrod Carluccio, 19. Josh Risdon, 21. Abdelelah Faisal (14. Nathanael Blair 70'), 28. Kaelan Majekodunmi

Unused Substitutes: 13. Cameron Cook (GK), 23. Jaylan Pearman

Melbourne City: 40. James Nieuwenhuizen (GK), 2. Callum Talbot, 8. Jimmy Jeggo, 15. Andrew Nabbout, 16. Aziz Behich (c) (35. Medin Memeti 117'), 17. Max Caputo (20. Arion Sulemani 89'), 19. Zane Schreiber (42. Benjamin Dunbar 99'), 21. Alessandro Lopane (41. Lawrence Wong 105'), 26. Samuel Souprayen (22. Germán Ferreyra 91'), 27. Kai Trewin, 38. Harry Politidis (23. Marco Tilio 73')

Unused Substitutes: 33. Patrick Beach (GK)