Glory edged out by Reds

Gareth Morgan

Giordano Colli’s stunning first-half strike was not enough to prevent Adelaide United claiming all three points as the Reds ran out 2-1 winners in Sunday’s compelling Round 4 clash at Coopers Stadium.

Craig Goodwin gave the hosts an early lead with an angled strike and the home skipper had a hand in his side’s second goal four minutes later, delivering a deep free-kick which Ben Warland forced back across goal where Hiroshi Ibusuki tapped home.

Glory recovered quickly from the double setback, however, Colli thundering an unstoppable 25m shot past Joe Gauci within nine minutes to claim his second goal in as many games.

While disappointed that his charges were ultimately unable to complete the comeback in what was an end-to-end second half, Head Coach Ruben Zadkovich was heartened by the way they reacted to finding themselves two down inside 22 minutes.

“We want to be super-competitive and we were again,” he said.

“We are building and it is going to take time, but it doesn’t make it any easier after a loss.

“The spirit is great in that dressing room and again we’ve shown character to come back from two goals down, get back into the game and still be chasing it late.

“But away from home against a quality Adelaide team, you need to execute and I don’t think we executed well enough around either box.

“We were defensively poor in those moments [conceding the goals] and there were some individual errors there.

“There were just lapses of concentration which you’re always going to pay for away from home.

“I don’t think we executed well and were just a bit sloppy.”

Perth are next in action on Saturday when they travel to Melbourne to face City.

IMAGE: Perth Glory FC