A first-half brace from in-form striker Ross McCormack condemned Glory to a 2-0 defeat against Melbourne City at nib Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Scottish international took his tally for the season to 12 with a fine early free-kick and a calmly-converted penalty on 38 minutes to put the visitors firmly in control at the break.
And although they rallied in the second half, going close through Xavi Torres and Diego Castro, the hosts were unable to find a way back into the contest.
There were some positives to come out of what was a largely frustrating night for Kenny Lowe’s side, however, notably the return from injury of Scott Neville and Xavi Torres, a first start since Round 5 for Adam Taggart and a senior debut for 18-year-old defender, Walter Scott.
Scott was named on the bench after Joseph Mills succumbed to a neck injury in the warm-up, a development which forced Lowe to reshuffle his starting side with Jeremy Walker moving to left-back, Scott Neville moving from centre-back to right-back, Xavi Torres dropping in to the heart of the defence and Jake Brimmer earning a start as he replaced the Spaniard in central midfield.
Perth local Scott ultimately replaced Brimmer at half-time and in doing so, became the sixth teenager to represent the club in the Hyundai A-League and FFA Cup this season.
The left-back acquitted himself well as Glory improved in the second half, but by then City had a tight grip on the game courtesy of McCormack’s double.
The on-loan Aston Villa man’s first arrived after just nine minutes as he bent home a superb free-kick, just as he did when the two sides met at AAMI Park in Round 8.
And he then doubled his and City’s tally shortly before the break, albeit in slightly controversial circumstances.
The dangerous Daniel Arzani appeared to tumble theatrically under a challenge from Andreu as he weaved his way into the box, but referee Jarred Gillett deemed the contact sufficient to warrant the awarding of a penalty and McCormack duly sent Liam Reddy the wrong way from the spot.
Castro had earlier fired over for Glory after some intricate build-up play and drawn a regulation save from Dean Bouzanis with a free-kick that crept under the City wall.
Bouzanis was then called upon to keep out a well-struck, 20-yard effort from Torres as the home side began the second half brightly and the City ‘keeper was also out smartly to foil Castro late on as Glory’s attempts to battle their way back ultimately proved in vain.
The result leaves Lowe’s men in seventh spot as they now switch their attentions to a meeting with City’s arch-rivals, Melbourne Victory, on Saturday.
Match Details
Round 15 Hyundai A-League 2017/18 Season
Perth Glory 0 Melbourne City 2 (McCormack 9′, 38′)
Half time 0-2
Attendance: 8016
Referee: Jarred Gillett
Assistant Referee 1: Josh Mannella
Assistant Referee 2: Arvin Shanmuganathan
Fourth Official: Adam Fielding
Video Assistant Referee: Eddie Lennie
Perth Glory: 33.Liam REDDY (Gk), 2.Alex GRANT, 8.Xavi TORRES, 9.Andy KEOGH (c), 17.Diego CASTRO, 18.Andreu GUERAO, 20.Jake BRIMMER (37.Walter SCOTT 46′), 22.Adam TAGGART ( 14.Chris HAROLD 72′), 23.Scott NEVILLE, 26.Jacob ITALIANO, 29.Jeremy WALKER
Substitutes not used: 13 Nick FEELY (Gk),19.Joe KNOWLES, 24.Callum TIMMINS
Yellow cards: Grant, Torres, Andreu, Italiano
Red cards: None
Melbourne City FC: 1.Dean BOUZANIS (Gk), 3. Scott JAMIESON, 4.Harrison DELBRIDGE, 5.Bart SCHENKEVELD, 6.Osama MALIK, 10.Dario VIDOSIC (7.Nick FITZGERALD 60′), 14.Daniel ARZANI (2.Manny MUSCAT 63′), 22.Michael JAKOBSEN (c), 26.Luke BRATTAN, 37.Nathaniel ATKINSON (27.Marcin BUDZINSKI 88′), 44.Ross MCCORMACK
Substitutes not used:9.Marcelo CARRUSCA, 18.Eugene GALEKOVIC (Gk),
Yellow cards: Jamieson, Brattan
Red cards: None
#CREATEDESTINY
