A-League Men: Perth Glory embarrassed 5-0 at home by Melbourne City as winless run continues

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A-League Men: Perth Glory embarrassed 5-0 at home by Melbourne City as winless run continues

Perth Glory’s nightmarish start to the A-League Men’s season has continued as they were embarrassed 5-0 and played off the park by Melbourne City at HBF Park.

Despite picking up their first point of the season last week, it proved to be a case of one step forward, two steps back as the Glory were torn to shreds by a professional City outfit.

It was not simply the result against one of the best teams in the league, but the manner of the performance which should have alarm bells ringing inside the club.

The Glory’s last win came in February, they have now gone 14 matches without a victory and have scored just once and conceded 13 goals in their first four matches, an embarrassing statistic for a once-proud club.

Camera IconCallum Talbot of Melbourne City kicks the ball down the pitch. Credit: James Worsfold/Getty Images

For the fourth game in a row, the Glory were outplayed as City played through them too easily, and they remain off the foot of the table only because Brisbane Roar are yet to even draw this season.

Steven Ugarkovic scored twice before half-time and ran the show in midfield as the gap between Perth and the rest of the competition was clear for all to see.

A horrendous mistake gifted Andres Kuen a third immediately following the restart, before Yonatan Cohen and Medin Memeti scored late to massage the margin.

With Perth press only employed sparingly and disjointed when it was used, they were ripped through by Melbourne, and the hosts looked bereft of a cohesive plan with the ball.

Camera IconSteven Ugarkovic of Melbourne City celebrates his goal. Credit: James Worsfold/Getty Images

The half-time stats made grim reading for Glory fans: just 30 per cent possession, only three touches inside the opposition box and three shots — none of which were on target.

There were three changes to the Glory side which drew last week, but the warning signs were evident early for Perth, with Oli Sail having to make two good saves from Ugarkovic, the first a save low to his right and the second a reflex palm away for a corner.

Luis Canga was called on to deny Memeti on the break as City looked to turn the screws on Perth, with Ugarkovic pulling the strings and breaking their attempts to press.

The deadlock was broken six minutes before half time in stupendous fashion, as Glory’s defence sat too deep and the ball rolled to Ugarkovic, who unleashed a fizzing first-time shot which beat Sail all ends up.

Camera IconNikola Mileusnic of the Perth Glory reacts on the field. Credit: James Worsfold/Getty Images

The midfielder doubled his tally and City’s lead in the 44th minute when Perth ******* to clear the ball from their own box and it spilled to Ugarkovic, who was played onside by Zach Lisolajski.

Any hopes from second half respite went up in flames when Sail whiffed a clearance straight to Kuen and he held off Nicholas Pennington before sliding the ball into an open net.

Things somehow got worse for Perth when Nikola Mileusnic — a half-time substitute making his first appearance since he tweaked his hamstring in limited minutes in round one — again pulled up lame, lasting only 14 minutes before he left the field.

Amid the on-field horror, the crowd kept themselves entertained, spending a good 10 minutes chanting “we’ve got the ball” and alternating to “we’ve lost the ball” when their side inevitably coughed up possession.

Camera IconJarrod Carluccio of the Perth Glory passes the ball away. Credit: James Worsfold/Getty Images

Adam Taggart tried to spark some life into his team, ******* a shot wide from distance, but City continued to find space easily as Perth pushed men forward in search of goals.

Harry Politidis almost made it 4-0 with a low shot which rolled wide of the mark, but his teammate Cohen obliged with six minutes left when he cut in from the right and placed the ball into the net.

As Perth players succumbed to cramp late, the polish was added as Memeti scored a tap-in before injury-time to cue sarcastic chants of “we want six” from The Shed End.

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