Perth Glory have continued their excellent mid-season form, extending their unbeaten run to seven matches with a 3-0 win over Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium on Sunday.
Perth Glory have continued their excellent mid-season form, extending their unbeaten run to seven matches with a 3-0 win over Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium on Sunday.
A clinical first-half finish from Shane Smeltz and a Steven McGarry tap-in helped Ian Ferguson’s men to a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.
Midfielder Liam Miller sealed the win with his first goal in Glory colours eight minutes from the end.
The win lifts Glory above Melbourne Heart and into fourth on the Hyundai A-League table, just two points adrift of the second-placed Wellington Phoenix.
Coming into the contest full of confidence after thrashing Melbourne Victory 4-1 last time out, Glory had three corners in the opening two minutes.
None resulted to any trouble for Adelaide goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic, and the Reds began to work their way into the contest.
Sergio van Dijk had several long-range efforts, while strike partner Bruce Djite wasted two glorious chances – one he put onto Danny Vukovic’s left post from six yards.
Against the run of play, Glory would make them pay for their wastefulness, and star striker Smeltz gave his side the lead after 14 minutes.
The Kiwi dispossessed United defender Daniel Mullen before twisting and turning in possession, firing a clinical finish into the bottom corner and past Galekovic’s right hand from just inside the area.
It was 2-0 just six minutes later when McGarry struck with a poacher’s effort.
Mile Sterjovski’s corner was partly cleared before Todd Howarth volleyed goal-bound, and McGarry was on hand in front of Galekovic to poke in from close-range.
The Glory defence held firm for the remainder of the first half, which was soured when Evan Berger was substituted after going down with a suspected hamstring injury in stoppage time.
Smeltz had a half-chance to add a third just after the interval, but he side-footed a tame shot straight at Galekovic.
Vukovic was called into action just after the hour-mark when captain Jacob Burns inadvertently headed a Dario Vidosic set-piece at his goal.
The Glory defence stayed compact as the hosts continued to push to try and find a way back into the contest.
Many of their chances came from set-pieces, but the visitors continually denied a frustrated and desperate Adelaide side.
Again against the run of play, Glory would find their sealer through Miller in the 82nd minute.
The Irishman exchanged passes with substitute Andrezinho before skipping past two Adelaide defenders and placing his shot into the bottom corner to cap off a fine display and his first goal for Perth Glory.
Adelaide United 0
Perth Glory 3 (Shane Smeltz 14′, Steven McGarry 20′, Liam Miller 82′)
@ Hindmarsh Stadium
