Despite dominating early, a new look Perth Glory began the 2015 Foxtel National Youth League season with a 2-0 loss against Brisbane Roar at Ashfield Sports Club at the weekend
A brace from Roar striker Nicholas D’Agostino was the difference between the two sides  but Glory had its chances in an entertaining encounter.
Glory Coach John Gibson said after creating a number of early chances, it was disappointing to then hand them the lead.
“We have to be more ruthless in front of goal, and could have been two or three up early,” he said.
“But we gave them the lead with a silly error in the back third, but we will learn from that and move on to next week.”
Despite the result Gibson said the side performed well and the signs are positive
“We created chances and Joe (Knowles) looked sharp up front in his first full game for a while, as well as Nikola (Talimdzioski and Jacob (Collard), so there were positive signs,” he said.
“It’s a different squad to last year and we will look to build on a successful NPL season and we look for forward to next week and continue to improve.”
Skipper Jacob Collard echoed the Coaches comments
“A disappointing result today, but it could have been so different if we had taken our chances, and we have to capitalize on those sort of chances in this league,” he said.
“We dominated early and an error at the back cost us today, and we need to get them out of our game if we want to be successful, but that’s football and today wasn’t our day.”
The home side, who gave debuts to new signing Alex Williams, Jamal Reiners and Aleks Susjnar, started brightly and Roar keeper Tomislav Bilic had to be alert to push Joe Knowles shot around the post after only five minutes.  Then from the resulting corner Williams’ header crashed off the crossbar.  Â
Knowles and Reiners looked lively up front and both had chances as the Glory made all the early running.
But on 11 minutes, and against the run of play. Roar hit the front. Susjnar had his pocket pinched by D’Agostino who rounded Jordan Thurtell and rolled the ball into an empty net.  Â
Glory thought it levelled on 21 minutes, when Slobodan Vulin turned home Knowles’ cross but the flag was up for offside.
Both sides had good chances before the break the best falling to Knowles. The striker making his first start in six months, saw his shot on the turn crash off the crossbar.
It was a case of déjà vu after the break and 11 minutes in, the Roar doubled its advantage with a stunning free kick from D’Agostino. The striker fired home an unstoppable free kick from 20-yards to give Thurtell no chance.
The lively striker almost completed his hat trick late on but Thurtell stood tall to deny him.
Glory pressed to the end and Talimdzioski headed inches over the top, and Daniel Stynes shot drifted wide of the target but it was Roar who ran out winners.
Next Saturday Glory travel to the CB Smith Reserve to take on Melbourne City. Â
Match Details
Perth Glory 0
Brisbane Roar 2 (D’Agostino 11’, 55’)
Saturday November 7 2015
Ashfield Sports Park
Referee: Tom Dowle
Assistants: Joshua Nixon and Jordan English
Perth Glory: GK Jordan THURTELL, 2 Dejan SPASESKI (13 Henry DURR 88’), 3 Jacob COLLARD (C), 4 Aleks SUSJNAR, 5 Ross MILLARD, 6 Aryn WILLIAMS, 7 Jamal REINERS (14 Daniel STYNES 61’), 8 Calvin WHITNEY (12 Walieldin ISMAIL 71’), 9 Joe KNOWLES, 10 Slobodan VULIN, 11 Nikola TALIMDZIOSKI
Subs not used: RGK Joel DRISCOLL
Yellow Cards: Talimdzioski 28’, Williams 37’, Spaseski 44’, Susjnar 67’ Â
Brisbane Roar: GK Tomislav BILIC, 2 Jaiden WALKER, 3 Cameron CRESTANI, 5 Tom JARRARD, 6 Liam O’BRYAN (4 Mark RODIC 77’), 9 Nicholas D’AGOSTINO, 10 Adam SAWYER (18 Harrison SAWYER 61’, 12 Joseph CHAMPNESS, 13 Mitch HORE (C), 14 Shannon BRADY (7 Dane INGHAM 75’), 15 Jesse DALEY
Subs not used: RGK Finn MATHESON
Yellow Cards: Champness 74’, Daley 82’Â
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