Perth Glory’s bid for a third consecutive Westfield FFA Cup final has come to an end after falling to Sydney FC 2-0 in extra time at Dorrien Gardens on Tuesday night in the Round of 16.
A clinical goal from Milos Ninkovic in the 98th minute followed by a solid strike from veteran Alex Brosque in the dying minutes, helped the Sky Blues advance to the quarter-final phase of the knock-out cup competition.
Glory’s new recruit Rhys Williams was among the shining stars who was superb in nullifying the visitors attacking threat, keeping things tight at the back.
Goalkeeper Liam Reddy was also brilliant for Perth in between the sticks who was forced to make several stunning saves during the match.
The second half saw Glory jump out of the blocks, looking to take a lead on their home turf but the ball never found the back of the net.
There were some positives for Glory, with Adam Taggart playing 75 minutes and Joe Mills and Milan Smiljanic also getting valuable game time.
Glory will now focus on its Hyundai A-League campaign which starts on October 8 at nib Stadium against Central Coast Mariners.
The match will mark the club’s 20th anniversary and the team will wear a heritage Jersey to celebrate the club’s two long standing decades in domestic football.
You can order the Jersey HERE
KEY MOMENTS:
7th – Rhys Williams delivers a scrumptious ball wide but Harold’s cross is snuffed out.
8th – Joe Knowles finds himself with the ball wide and delivers a low cross for Keogh that is blocked by Danny Vukovic
15th –Holosko finds himself inside the box and aims his strike for the top near corner but Liam Reddy makes a superb save
22 – The ball drops for Grant outside the box and his subsequent strike is hooked and almost finds Ninkovic inside the box. He is unable to capitalise on his run.
23 – A Sydney FC free kick from Carney is whipped in and bounces just on the six yard box but the flight of the ball forces Reddy into another spectacular save.
28 – Ninkovic picks up a yellow card for kicking the ball away after a Glory foul.
36 – Reddy finds Harold free on the right and he makes Zullo foul him. Zullo receives a yellow card for dissent
37 – Marinkovic’s cross finds Rhys Williams free at the back post but he can’t connect well enough and skies his shot.
39 – Warren volleys from outside the box, drilling it into the ground but doesn’t trouble Vukovic at all.
43 – Holosko finds himself inside the box after being slipped through by Ninkovic but he belts his shot into row z
44 – Zullo sends in an early cross but it’s cleared by Joe Mills
45+ – Another David Carney free kick is sent in to the back post finding Ryall who nods its back across goal for Ninkovic to strike yet it is blocked by Williams.
HALF-TIME
45 – Adam Taggart comes on
48 – Harold is put through from a cheeky back-heel from Keogh but his strike rockets into the side netting.
54 – Reddy makes another unbelievable save from Zullo’s volleyed effort after a nice cross in.
56 – Keogh waits for the underlap from Warren before sending him through but his cross is blocked
56 – Williams delivers a wonderful ball into the box for Taggart but he’s forced to attempt a volley on the turn and it’s blocked.
57 – Keogh sends in an in swinging cross from the left. Vukovic attempts to claim the ball but fumbles it briefly before making sure of it.
61 – Mills delivers a beautiful cross for Harold who is unfortunately offside.
65 – Reddy makes yet another spectacular save after a Sydney header across goal should have resulted in a tap in finish.
68 – Bobo comes on for Matt Simon for his debut
71 – Taggart almost sends the fans into raptures with a darting run yet his strike hits the side netting
72 – Milan Smiljanic makes his debut coming on for captain Rostyn Griffiths
73 – Taggart’s knocked on header finds Harold on the right who floats in a cross but it’s cleared by the Sydney defence.
79 – Mills sends in a superb cross for Harold only for a free kick is given for a push in the back
81 – Filip Holosko off for Alex Brosque
85 – Bobo’s eyes light up from distance and attempts a stinging drive from 30 yards
85 – Reddy makes a brilliant double save, firstly from a header and then from the followed up strike which he holds.
89 – Keogh wins a free kick about 25 yards out from goal. The free kick almost finds a penalty for the Glory. Unfortunately, Wilson couldn’t control the ball quickly enough to get his shot away.
90 – Scores are level after full time
93 – Harold receives the ball from Smiljanic on the right, cutting inside and delivering a low cross that is snuffed out by Vukovic
95 – Warren’s header is intercepted by Ninkovic, who picks out Bobo with an impeccable through ball. He looks certain to score but only for a match saving block from Rhys Williams.
98 – Ninkovic strolls through the Glory defence evading a couple of tackles and picks out the top corner with the precision of a surgeon.
101 – Taggart picks up the ball deep in midfield and tries to run at the Sydney defence and is put under too much pressure and his shot is pulled to the right.
102 – Richard Garcia comes on for Chris Harold
104 – Warren floats in a ball towards Taggart but he misses the ball with his attempted volley.
107 – Smiljanic cuts in on his right from the left hand side and delivers a super cross, finding Garcia unmarked, who fails to hit the target.
113 – Smiljanic hits a powerful strike from distance straight at Vukovic
114 – Brosque rifles a strike into the back of the net to put any doubts to bed after a terrific solo run.
116 – Mills delivers a pearler of a cross for Garcia to volley but his strike and ricochets of the post.
WHAT THEY SAID- KENNY LOWE
“They’re a good team it was a tight game but two super goals, two good players two good strikes”.
“It’s early days for us. It was Taggart’s first run out. A few of the boys in there are a little bit underdone at the present second but we’ve got a good group but we’ll kick-on and I’m sure we’ll do ok.They’re a good side, very well organised they’ll do very well this year”.
Match Details
Perth Glory
Sydney FC 2 (Ninkovic 98’, Brosque 114’)
Tuesday August 30th 2016
Dorrien Gardens
Referee: Adam Fielding
Assistants: Josh Mannella, Matthew Southern, Tom Dowle, Aaron Humphries
Squads:
Perth Glory: 3. Marc WARREN, 5. Rhys WILLIAMS, 6. Dino DJULBIC, 8. Rostyn GRIFFITHS (C) (99. Milan SMILJANIC 72’), 9. Andy KEOGH, 10. Nebojsa MARINKOVIC, 14. Chris HAROLD (11. Richard GARCIA 12’) 15. Brandon WILSON, 16. Joe MILLS, 28. Joe KNOWLES (22. Adam TAGGART 45’), 33. Liam REDDY (GK)
Subs: 13.Nicholas FEELY (GK), 20. Aryn WILLIAMS,
Yellow Cards:
Red Cards:
Sydney FC: 2. Sebastian RYALL (C), 4. Alex WILKSINSON, 6. Joshua BRILLANTE, 7. Michael ZULLO, 10. Milos NINKOVIC, 13. Brandon O’NEILL, 17. David CARNEY (5. Matthew JURMAN 112’), 18. Matthew SIMON (BOBO 68’), 20. Danny VUKOVIC (GK), 21. Filip HOLOSKO (14. Alex BROSQUE 81’), 23. Rhyan GRANT
Subs: 1. Vedran JANJETOVIC (GK), 8. Milos DIMITRIJEVIC,
Yellow Cards: 28’ Ninkovic, 36’ Zullo, O’Neill 118’
Red Cards:
