In a significant turnaround for their away form, Perth Glory have carved out a piece of history, securing their first-ever win in Campbelltown with a commanding 2-0 victory over Macarthur FC.
Historic Away Double for Glory
The result marks a monumental achievement for the Western Australian club, as it is the first time since January 2019 that they have won two consecutive away matches. This back-to-back away triumph, following last week's success, is a feat not accomplished in almost three years, signalling a potential shift in the team's fortunes on the road.
Interim coach Adam Griffiths saw his stock rise considerably, with his team never looking truly threatened by a lacklustre Macarthur side. The win strengthens his public bid to take on the head coaching role permanently.
Griffiths' Passion and Player Praise
When questioned about his desire for the full-time position in a post-game interview on Paramount+, Griffiths was unequivocal. "Of course, I want it. What the hell am I doing here on this planet, except for coaching football?" he stated passionately.
He emphasised a relentless focus on daily improvement, crediting his coaching staff for pushing the players to be their best. Griffiths also heaped praise on his key attacking duo, Tom Lawrence and skipper Adam Taggart, suggesting the partnership has yet to reach its full potential. "I don't even believe they're anywhere near where they could go," he remarked, predicting a dangerous future for the team once their combination fully clicks.
Match Highlights and Decisive Goals
Glory started the match with positive intent and came close to opening the scoring on multiple occasions in the first half. Taggart was denied by a last-ditch challenge, while Lawrence saw a classy effort rebound off the post.
The game's rhythm stalled after the break until a moment of brilliance in the 66th minute. A swift counter-attack, started by substitute Sebastian Despotovski, ended with Taggart sliding a perfect through ball. Lawrence won the race to it and unselfishly squared for Nicholas Pennington, who had been on the pitch for just five minutes, to slot home his second goal in as many weeks.
Macarthur's best chance for an equaliser was smashed over the bar by Harry Politidis in the 86th minute. Any lingering doubt was extinguished just two minutes later when left-back Charbel Shamoon, who was impressive throughout, cut inside and fired a composed finish into the corner of the net after being found in space by Taggart, sealing a memorable 2-0 win for the visitors.
