Adelaide United Secures Victory Over Perth Glory

Adelaide United winger Dylan Pierias was taken to hospital after suffering a serious-looking knee injury in the 10-man Reds' 1-0 win over Perth Glory at HBF Park.

What happened?

The win was sealed by Craig Goodwin's 12th-minute winner, despite the Socceroos star also having a penalty saved just before halftime.

Adelaide United held on despite going down to 10 men in the 81st minute when Panashe Madanha was handed a straight red for his reckless groin-high challenge on Charbel Shamoon.

Why it matters for Adelaide United

The victory lifted Adelaide United into fifth spot, with four wins and five losses from their nine matches this season.

What comes next?

Adelaide United coach Airton Andrioli said the winger had been taken to a Perth hospital, and they are waiting to see the extent of the injury. The Reds' Brazilian Anselmo was also subbed off at halftime and had a big ice pack on his upper leg, but Andrioli said it was precautionary due to some groin tightness. Glory (10 points) remain ninth following their second loss on the trot. Perth entered the match without Adam Taggart (groin), Jaiden Kucharski (hamstring), and Damian Despotovski (calf), and their absence was keenly felt, especially in the second half as Glory unleashed 11 shots to one. Adelaide United looked dangerous early, and Glory were made to pay for giving Goodwin too much space in the 12th minute. Goodwin took advantage of the slack defending to snare some territory before unleashing a low 24-yard left-foot drive that curved back slightly to sneak past Matt Sutton's outstretched hand. Glory players were left fuming in the 37th minute when their claims for a penalty were waved away, despite the bouncing ball appearing to clearly hit the lower arms of Adelaide defender Panagiotis Kikianis. Glory coach Adam Griffiths said, 'I definitely saw that Kikianis almost cradled the ball like it was a baby, like a nice, gentle baby.' To rub salt into the wound, Adelaide United earned their own penalty seven minutes later when Yaya Dukuly streamed past three Glory defenders before being tripped by goalkeeper Matt Sutton. Goodwin stepped up to the spot and fired the ball straight ahead - only for a diving Sutton to save it with his foot. Glory pushed hard for an equaliser, but they lacked the finishing touch in the absence of Taggart, Despotovski, and Kucharski. Griffiths said, 'Deja vu,' in reference to Perth's 1-0 loss to Sydney a week earlier when Glory also dominated for long periods without being rewarded. As of 25 Jun 2026, Adelaide United sits in a strong position in the league, with a recent form of WWDDW. Their next match will be crucial in determining their position in the league standings. With key players like Craig Goodwin and Dylan Pierias, Adelaide United has the potential to make a strong push for the top spot in the league. However, they will need to navigate injuries and tough opponents to achieve their goal. The team's performance will be closely watched by fans and pundits alike as they strive to make a lasting impact in the league.