Glory rise against Phoenix in Wellington

Perth Glory FC has won the Long Distance Derby Cup after a resolute 2-1 victory against Wellington Phoenix at Westpac Stadium.

It was another professional performance from the Glory boys, dominating possession and the vast majority of chances throughout the match.

The opening goal arrived in stunning style 10 minutes before the half time break. Veteran Richard Garcia weaved in between two Phoenix defenders, before his pinpoint low cross was rounded off perfectly by an expert one-touch finish by striker Andy Keogh.

Castro then doubled the lead in the 74th minute. Chris Harold made a barnstorming run to go one-on-one against Wellington keeper Glen Moss, firing two shots saved at point blank range by the custodian, before Castro calmly finished the rebound into the empty net.

The result was well and truly determined when Tom Doyle claimed a stoppage time consolation goal. The defender fired a powerful strike from 25 metres across a diving Ante Covic, finding the bottom right hand corner to pull one back for the home side.

It was another professional performance from Perth Glory, earning their 7th win in their last eight games to put the club within three points of fourth-placed Adelaide United.

 

Key Moments

First Half

3’ Vadocz tries an audacious shot from just in front of the halfway line forcing a great save out of Glen Moss, tipping the ball wide for a Perth Glory corner.

9’ Keogh is next to try his luck from 40 metres out against Glen Moss, his low long shot sails well wide of the far post.

15’ McGlinchey takes a wide touch finding space at the top of the box, only to fire a powerful strike high and wide of the target.

20’ Warren whips in a delightful cross onto Diego Castro, but his uncontrolled header goes well over the cross bar.

24’ Garcia fires a powerful strike towards the top right hand corner from 20 metres out, forcing a strong save out of Moss.

36’ Glory open the scoring. Garcia beats two defenders with a burst of pace and delivers a pin point cross to Keogh on the 6 yard box, finishing first-time at the bottom right hand corner.

38’ Garcia whips in another cross towards Keogh, causing a scramble that leads to Harold’s looping header to be cleared off the line by Andrew Durante.

 

Second Half

47’ Castro cuts the ball back on the left wing, setting himself up for a strike on a tight angle that curls inches wide of the top right hand corner.

50’ Warren lashes a low shot from distance but it goes well wide of the far post.

51’ Harold makes a barnstorming run down the right wing, crossing the ball to Keogh, only for the Irishman to head straight at Moss.

52’ Castro finds space on the left wing, he cuts inside and slams a low strike toward the near bottom corner, Moss tips it around the post for a corner.

54’ Castro’s curling free kick finds the head of Vadocz but the towering Hungarian heads high and wide of the mark.

68’ Keogh cuts back to Harold at the penalty dot, but the winger loops his first time shot over the bar.

73’ Castro tries a curler from a free kick on an acute angle but it’s over the near top corner for a goal kick.

74’ 2-0 Glory. Harold uses his pace to latch onto a through ball to face Moss one-on-one, his two strikes saved at point blank range before Castro rolls the ball into an empty net on the second rebound.

75’ Keogh cuts the ball back to Harold inside the box, his shot loops over the bar for a goal kick.

86’ Mitch Oxborrow tries his luck from a free kick 30 metres out but his strike go well over the crossbar.

90+1’ Oxborrow fires another free kick over the crossbar from distance, similar to the first.

90+2’ Phoenix score.  Tom Doyle breaks away on the left wing and unleashes a powerful strike from 25 metres out across the body of a diving Ante Covic into the bottom right hand corner. 

 

Squads

Perth Glory FC: Ante COVIC, Marc WARREN (Dino DJULBIC 85’), Alex GRANT, Shane LOWRY, Josh RISDON (C), Kristian VADOCZ, Gyorgy SANDOR, Richard GARCIA (Mitch OXBORROW 66’), Chris HAROLD (Jamal REINERS 76’), Diego CASTRO, Andy KEOGH

Unused subs: Jerrad TYSON, Kostas PETRATOS.

Wellington Phoenix:  Glen MOSS, Manny MUSCAT, Andrew DURANTE (C – Dylan FOX 46’), Ben SIGMUND, Tom DOYLE, Albert RIERA, Alex RODRIGUEZ (Vincent LIA 64’), Roly BONEVACIA, Michael MCGLINCHEY, Blake POWELL (Matthew RIDENTON 73’), Hamish WATSON.

Unused subs: Lewis ITALIANO, Louis FENTON.

 

Yellow cards: Ben SIGMUND (18’), Andy KEOGH (23’), Marc WARREN (32’), Andrew DURANTE (34’), Kristian VADOCZ (38’), Richard GARCIA (45+1’), Tom DOYLE (53’), Josh RISDON (59’), Manny MUSCAT (71’), Mitch OXBORROW (77’), 
Red cards: nil

Conditions: Clear and Sunny