Perth Glory have come back from a two-goal deficit to defeat the Central Coast Mariners 3-2 after extra time in the Hahn Australia Cup 2025 Final Rounds Playoffs.
Alou Kuol was on the scoresheet for the Mariners before Jaylan Pearman, Adam Taggart and Adam Bugarija lifted Perth to victory.
There was one change for the Central Coast Mariners from their final A-League Men’s game of the season. Playmaker Miguel di Pizio came in to replace defender Diesel Harrington, suggesting a more adventurous set-up from Mark Jackson’s side.
The Glory, meanwhile, were unchanged from the team that defeated the Wellington Phoenix on the final day of the season.
Perth started the game on the front foot, with Adam Taggart a constant threat. He almost had the opportunity to tuck home a header in the 10th minute – it was deflected away at the final moment by a Mariners head – and he managed to keep the ball alive from a corner five minutes later, which allowed Luke Amos to wind up a shot.
The Mariners suffered a blow midway through the first half when Di Pizio was forced off the field with a knee injury. He was replaced by former Glory player Abdelelah Faisal.
The Glory continued to work the openings. Takuya Okamoto found space twice but wasn’t able to execute the final ball required, while a clever switch of play that found Yuto Misao had the same outcome.
The Mariners made their first-half profligacy pay in the 40th minute. Mikael Doka landed a free-kick in a dangerous area around Perth’s six-yard box. Kaelan Majekodunmi wasn’t able to position his body correctly, and it deflected off his foot into the back of the Glory’s net for an unfortunate own goal.
Four minutes later, Alou Kuol doubled the Mariners lead. A fantastic first touch on the turn opened up space that he gratefully exploited. With the Perth defence backtracking, he was able to roll the ball into the corner of the net from just outside the penalty area.
That goal meant that the Mariners were two goals to the good at half-time and would have been feeling confident heading into the second half.
That confidence may have begun to ebb as Perth made their intentions of getting back into the game known. Doka was forced to clear the ball off the line in the 53rd minute after a deflection made life challenging for the Mariners defence.
The Glory broke through six minutes later. Once again the Mariners failed to clear their lines, and this time, the ball came to Glory youngster Jaylan Pearman. Pearman connected well with the volley to score in his final game for Perth and halve the deficit.
Adam Taggart would have his say in the 65th minute, bringing the scores level. The striker got on the end of a pinpoint cross from Nikola Mileusnic and, when he connected with his diving header, there was only ever going to be one result.
Substitute Adam Bugarija had a massive opportunity in the 86th minute to win the game for Perth but he wasn’t able to apply the finishing touch.
The typical Darwin heat began to take its toll as the game wound towards full-time of regulation time, and neither team was able to find what would have been the decisive breakthrough. Extra time was required to separate the teams who were unable to be separated at 2-2.
It was Perth who continued to have the better opportunities. Dylan Peraic-Cullen was forced into a wonderful save with his legs only minutes into extra time to deny the Glory.
He was not able to deny Adam Bugarija four minutes later. Adam Taggart chested down a free-kick into the path of Bugarija right in front of goal, who was able to turn and shoot on the spin into the back of the net. With his goal, the Glory took the lead for the first time in the game.
That would not be the end of the drama. The Mariners had a golden opportunity to equalise after half-time of extra time when Misao was adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty area. Doka was the player tasked with stepping up to take the penalty - only for Oli Sail to make a spectacular save to his left, and maintain the Glory's lead.
The final minutes of the game were filled with Mariners chances, a succession of set pieces applying pressure on the Glory. However, Perth were able to hold on, and will compete in the Hahn Australia Cup Round of 32 later this year.
Match Summary
Central Coast Mariners: 2 (OG 40’, Kuol 44’)
Perth Glory: 3 (Pearman 59’, Taggart 65’, Bugarija 98’)
Date: Tuesday 13 May 2025
Venue: Darwin Football Stadium at Larrakia Park
Referee: Lachlan Keevers
Assistant Referees: Nick Elagin and James Sherry
Fourth Official: Sam Kelly
Central Coast Mariners: 40. Dylan Peraic-Cullen (GK), 3. Brian Kaltak, 8. Alfie McCalmont, 9. Alou Kuol (39. Nicholas Duarte 59’), 10. Antonio Mikael Rodrigues Brito 12. Lucas Mauragis 23. Miguel Di Pizio (21. Abedelelah Faisal 24’, 24. Diesel Herrington 98’) 33. Nathan Paull 35. Arthur De Lima (7. Christian Theoharous 74’) 36. Haine Eames (16. Harrison Steele 59’) 37. Bailey Brandtman (44. Lucas Scicluna 90’)
Substitutes Not Used: 55. Joel Wade (GK)
Yellow Cards: 8. Alfie McCalmont (64’)
Red Cards: Nil
Perth Glory: 1. Oliver Sail (GK) 10. Nikola Mileusnic (26. Khoa Ngo 90’, 4. Tass Mourdoukoutas 105’) 17. Yuto Misao 20. Trent Ostler 21. Luke Amos 22. Adam Taggart (14. Nathaniel Blair 102’) 25. Jaylan Pearman (6. Brandon O’Neill 74’) 27. William Freney (16. Adam Bugarija 63’) 28. Kaelan Majekodunmi 29. Tomislav Mrcela 36. Takuya Okamoto
Substitutes Not Used: 13. Cameron Cook (GK) 24. Andriano Lebib
Yellow Cards: 20. Trent Ostler (39’), Brandon O’Neill (81’)
Red Cards: Nil
