Catch all the highlights from the Isuzu UTE A-League showdown between Perth Glory and the Central Coast Mariners.
Sixteen-year-old Haine Eames netted his second goal of the season as Central Coast Mariners battled to a 1-1 draw against Perth Glory at HBF Park.
The Glory began strongly, and their efforts were rewarded just eight minutes in when Adam Taggart blasted a fierce low shot into the bottom corner, thanks to some brilliant setup play from Lachie Wales.
Perth had several opportunities to extend their lead, but it was the Mariners who managed to equalise in the 61st minute. Eames, with a low shot, slipped the ball past goalkeeper Oli Sail—a moment the keeper will want to forget quickly.
Perth certainly had their chances to clinch the win, but Mariners’ keeper Dylan Peraic-Cullen was instrumental in maintaining parity, making a crucial denial against Taggart late in the match to ensure the points were shared.
This result leaves Perth languishing in second-last position on the ladder, while the Mariners have set a new club record with four consecutive draws—their first ever in the Isuzu UTE A-League history.
Looking to seize the advantage early, Glory striker Taggart warned the Mariners defence with a powerful attempt that went wide after he was given too much time on the edge of the penalty area.
Sluggish out of the gate, the Mariners found themselves trailing 1-0 in just eight minutes, courtesy of Taggart’s deft finish.
Wales drove the ball through midfield, and his flick found Taggart at the edge of the box. The striker executed a precise shot, which deflected off sliding defender Trent Sainsbury’s legs, passing beyond Mariners’ keeper Peraic-Cullen.
The Mariners posed their first threat in the 27th minute, as Ryan Edmondson shrugged off a challenge from defender Tomi Mrcela, but he directed his header straight at keeper Oli Sail.
On the cusp of half-time, the visitors nearly equalised, but Sail exhibited excellent reflexes to keep out Christian Theoharous’ left-footed attempt, turning the ball around the post.
Despite a brief treatment for a possible knee concern, Taggart could have doubled Perth’s lead just before the break. Left unmarked on the edge of the box, he received the ball but curled his shot wide of the far post, a significant let-off for the Mariners.
The second half began with renewed energy from the Mariners following a triple substitution that included the return of talented forward Miguel Di Pizio from injury. The visitors found their equaliser in the 61st minute, aided by an unfortunate mistake from the Glory’s goalkeeper.
Set up by Mikael Doka, the impressive Eames took aim from distance. While Sail should have saved the low shot, he allowed the ball to slip beneath him and into the net—a moment he surely wants to erase from memory.
Substitute Joel Anasmo had two golden opportunities to find the winner but was unable to convert; first misconnecting with a beautiful cross and then blasting a close-range shot straight at defender Trent Sainsbury.
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In a bid to snatch a late winner, Glory’s Nicholas Pennington attempted an audacious scissor-kick from a Nathaniel Blair cross, but it flew agonisingly wide in the 86th minute.
Just a minute later, Mariners keeper Peraic-Cullen rose to the occasion, thwarting Taggart after the Socceroos forward capitalised on some uncertainty in the Central Coast defence.
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As the tension ramped up, the chances kept coming, with Blair firing over from the edge of the area in the 89th minute after creating some space for his shot.
This result leaves Perth down in 11th place on the ladder, while the Mariners’ search for an away victory in Western Australia continues, with their last win in Perth dating back to 2021.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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