Perth Glory FC has come away from Victoria with a 1-1 draw and a hard earned point, following a controversial penalty awarded to Melbourne Victory striker Besart Berisha in the 24th minute in today’s RD 12 Hyundai A-League encounter at AAMI Stadium.
A dubious penalty was awarded to the Albanian striker after he made a run into the box; referee Shaun Evans ruled Glory ‘keeper Ante Covic impeded Berisha but television replays clearly showed there was no contact.
Marquee man Diego Castro equalised for Glory in the 74th minute after Socceroo Josh Risdon was brought down in the box. The spot kick was Castro’s fourth goal of the season and his third in as many matches.
The 1-1 result extends Glory’s unbeaten Hyundai A-League run to four matches.
Glory will head to Brisbane on New Year’s Day to face Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium on January 2.
Perth’s next home match is on January 9 against Adelaide United.
You can get your tickets to the match HERE
*Kids go free with every Adult ticket purchased!*
KEY MOMENTS
1’ An ill-directed back pass from Grant to Covic almost results in an own goal.
3’ Reiners gets onto a loose ball and makes a driving run but his shot on goal doesn’t faze Vukovic.
4’ Reiners blocks a shot on goal fired in from Berisha.
22’ Risdon clears virtually off-the line after an attacking threat by Victory.
24’ Covic receives a yellow card after he’s ruled to have brought down Berisha in the box.
25’ Warren crosses a delightful ball into the box which is met by Garcia who heads just wide.
34’ Berisha miss-kicks in front of goal.
36’ Diving save from Covic to deny Makarounas.
39’ Harold breaks free and bursts into the box but shoots wide of the mark.
45‘+ 1 Thwaite meets Oxborrow’s corner and forces Vukovic to tip over the bar
47’ Sandor shoots on goal but poses no problem for Vukovic.
51’ Khalfallah spoons a shot in front of goal over the bar.
63’ Georgievski fouled. Risdon booked.
69’ Bozanic gets a booking after a foul on Harold.
73‘ Risdon is fouled in the box and goes down. Penalty awarded to Perth.
74‘ Castro equalises after converting the spot-kick.
84‘ Harold with a good chance and shoots with the outside of the boot but is just wide.
87‘ Harold shoots again, this time from a tight angle but it’s just over the bar .
WHAT THEY SAID:
Ante Covic: “Very pleased, very pleased. We went 1-nil down through something that never should have been”.
“We fought hard the whole game, we had a few chances, I’m very proud of the lads we came back into the game and had two or three chances of our own so coming here to Melbourne and putting a performance like that I’m very proud of the lads”.
TEAMS:
Melbourne Victory: Vukovic (gk), Geria, Deng, Delpierre, Georgievski (Murnane 83’), Broxham (c), Bozanic, Barbarouses, Makarounas (Pain 81’), Ben Khalfallah (Thompson 71’), Berisha
Perth Glory: Covic (gk), Risdon, Grant, Thwaite, Warren, Ferreira (Oxborrow 39’), Sandor, Harold, Castro, Garcia (c), Reiners (Williams 82’)
Scorers: Berisha 25’, Castro 74’
Red cards: Nil
Yellow cards: Warren 18’, Covic 24’, Risdon 63’, Bozanic 68’, Georgievski 75’, Pain 90+1’
Conditions: 20C, Mostly sunny
Attendance: 22,554 @ AAMI Park
