The PGFC Academy team were edged out 2-1 by Adelaide United in Sunday’s Foxtel Youth League clash at the Marden Sports Complex.
Cooper Nunn’s free-kick gave the hosts the lead midway through the first half, with Zayd Farah’s unfortunate own-goal doubling that advantage just after the hour-mark.
And although Gabriel Popovic did manage to reduce the arrears with his first goal in Glory colours four minutes from time, the visitors were unable to claim a share of the spoils.
While disappointed with the result, however, Garcia took plenty of positives from his side’s performance against the Conference A leaders.
“I was very happy with the mentality of the players after a disappointing performance and result last week,” he said.
“Our willingness to work hard and the manner in which we kept possession and were patient with the ball was great to see.
“We didn’t rush or panic on the ball and were a lot more measured in our performance today.”
Garcia did feel, however, that Adelaide’s two goals could have been avoided and that his charges were not at their best going forward.
“The goals we conceded were disappointing – a set-piece and an own-goal,” he said, “and when we got forward, we lacked ambition in the final third.
“In between the boxes, we did really well, but we had lapses of concentration at either end of the pitch and they proved to be the difference.
“We controlled the second half and did really well. Our goal just probably came a little bit late, but we still had a couple of half-chances which, on another day, might have bounced our way and someone would have had a tap-in.
“Overall it was a good hit-out for the guys and it was also great to be able to get more game time into Matt Spiranovic and Daniel Stynes, both of whom played for more than an hour.”
In a lively opening to the game, Nikola Mileusnic hit the woodwork as early as the ninth minute, but the Reds were not to be denied shortly afterwards when Nunn rifled home a fine free kick.
Popovic was then just unable to beat Isaac Richards in the home goal early in the second half and Glory soon found themselves two down when the luckless Farah diverted a Pacifique Niyongabire cross into his own net.
Popovic duly converted an Ethan Brooks cross to set up a tense finale, but the Reds managed to hang on to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
Glory return to action next Saturday with an away clash against Brisbane Roar.
Match Details
Adelaide United 2 (Nunn 22′, Farah (o.g) 64′) Perth Glory 1 (G.Popovic 86′)
Half-time: 1-0
Marden Sports Complex
Adelaide United: 1.Isaac RICHARDS, 10.Ryan STRAIN, 16.Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS, 18.Lachlan BROOK (6.Ryan YATES 16′), 19.Al Hassan TOURE (14.Blake CARPENTER 53′), 22.Cooper NUNN, 27.Louis D’ÁRRIGO, 28.Kristin KONSTANDOPOULOS, 33.Apostolos STAMATELOPOULOS, 39.Nikola MILEUSNIC (24.Pacifique NIYONGABIRE 46′), 44.Jared CLARK
Substitutes not used: 20.Cameron COOK
Yellow cards: Stamatelopoulos
Red cards: Nil
Perth Glory: 1.Jackson LEE, 2.Matthew SPIRANOVIC (14.Ethan BROOKS 61′), 3.Daniel WALSH, 4.Zayd FARAH, 5.Jack LEECH (15.Kristian POPOVIC 46′), 6.Henry HORE, 7.Abias BUKURU, 8.Cameron MURRAY, 9.Jaidon SELDEN, 10.Daniel STYNES (16.Jayden LEADER 74′), 11.Gabriel POPOVIC
Substitutes not used: 12.Nicholas SPECA
Yellow cards: K.Popovic
Red cards: Nil
#OneGlory
