A pretty entertaining match, as would befit two teams with strong attacks but inconsistent defenses. We should have gone into the break with the lead, after creating half a dozen or so good chances.
I thought the real difference was that the Perth defense got their act together in the second half, and made things difficult for our attack, so that when a Breaker got forward in a dangerous position, he couldn't quite get a decent shot in.
On the second half, it was a reasonable result, on the overall game a draw would have summed things up well. The Breakers had more chances, but the visitors always looke dangerous on the quick break. It was certainly (and mercifully) better than the equivalent clash last season.
Troy Halpin was excellent, several times taking the piss out of the opposition, and setting up our strikers with some excellent chances, which they duly accepted and wasted, because it wasn't the first game of the season. I always wondered why a player such as Tapai was a Socceroo, and Halpo wasn't. After last night, this feeling is much magnified. Tapai finds good space and crosses well, but cannot beat players like Halpin.
Perth fans will be relieved to hear that the Glory keeper really wasn't too bad, though surprisingly had little to do apart from picking up crosses, which he did reasonably competently. This shows how poor our finishing was - we could have really put an under-pressure keeper to the test, but instead were always narrowly wide from close range.
Benn Lane's goal was a ripper. Good to see someone having a crack from further out. Curled over and around the keeper, but it was too late, and we didn't really pressure in injury time.
Overall an enjoyable and entertaining evening, spoiled only by poor concentration by our defense to the counter-attack. If Kossie's going to waiver from the "youth policy only" approach, some experience at the back would be the way to go.