Adam Taggart bagged his 10th of the season as Perth showed great character to come from behind twice to earn a point.
It’s now 19 goals from 4 games, as Perth Glory and Brisbane Roar were forced to share the spoils after playing out an entertaining 2-2 draw in gruelling conditions in front of 10,762 fans at nib Stadium.
Temperatures in the low thirties resulted in a slow start in the west with neither side able to take a strong grasp on the game early on.
Brisbane was the first of the sides to pose a threat going forward with former Glory spearhead Jamie Maclaren diverting a Tommy Oar cross just inches wide of Liam Reddy’s near post. It wasn’t long until the striker came back to haunt his old side after a failed clearance from another Oar cross saw the ball fall loose inside the six-yard box leaving Reddy helpless as the Australian International poked it home.
The goal seemed to kick the Glory into gear as seven minutes later Nebojsa Marinkovic collected the ball on the edge of the area and curled one into the top right-hand corner to restore parity. It was another typical belting finish from the Serbian, with the ball firing into the roof of the net.
Second gamer Dane Ingham, who was a late inclusion into the match day squad, hit back instantly after the full-back got on the end of some solid build up play and drilled it home into the bottom-left corner from the edge of the area.
Glory had one final chance to go into the sheds level as a fantastic Marinkovic set-piece picked out Rostyn Griffiths in the box, but the skipper could only loop his header into the arms of Roar keeper Michael Theo.
Perth responded superbly just minutes in the second-half, with Castro’s instinctive backheel finding Harold, who then teed up Taggart perfectly as the Socceroo continued his prolific form by burying the ball into the bottom-right corner to level once again.
Glory pushed intensely to claim a winner, with Taggart coming close to doubling his tally for the game, as his powerful strike outside the area forcing Theo into a fantastic save, but it wasn’t to be after six minutes of stoppage time.
The result means Perth Glory remain in 5th spot ahead of another crucial tie with Western Syndey next Saturday at nib.
Kick-off is at 7pm.
KEY MOMENTS
First Half:
16’ Oar whips a ball into the box from the left wing for Maclaren who can only direct his header wide of Reddy’s near post.
29’ A loose ball falls for Griffiths at the edge of the area and the skipper tries his luck with an audacious volley, but he can’t keep it down and the ball sails over the bar
GOAL | Maclaren gets on the end of a Tommy Oar cross, beating Williams in the air and poking it home from close range, 0-1
GOAL | Marinkovic picks the ball up on the edge of the box before curling one into the top right corner, 1-1
GOAL | Some good build up play by Brisbane sees the ball end up with Ingham who fires it home into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. 1-2
45’ Griffiths gets on the end of a fantastic Marinkovic set-piece, but the skipper can only direct his header into the arms of Theo
Second Half:
48’ Marinkovic curls in a delightful ball looking for Taggart who is just inches away from levelling the scores.
GOAL | Harold latches onto a fantastic flick on from Castro before teeing up Taggart inside who tucks it home into the bottom right corner, 2-2
56’ Maclaren gets in behind the Glory defence and is left one on one with Reddy, but the Glory custodian denies the former Glory striker with a fantastic save and keep the game level.
65’ Mills gets down the left wing before playing in Castro who delivers a mouth watering ball into the box searching for Harold, but Mckay gets an important touch on it and Harold can’t control his header
77’ Taggart receives the ball on the edge of the area before cutting in onto his right, firing a shot at the bottom corner and forcing a superb save out of Theo
MATCH DETAILS
Perth Glory 2 (Nebojsa MARINKOVIC 38’, Adam TAGGART 48’)
Brisbane Roar 2 (Jamie Maclaren 31’, Dane INGHAM 40’)
Referee: Jarrad Gillet
Assistant Referees: Scott Edelling, Josh Mannella
Fourth Official: Adam Fielding
SQUADS
Perth Glory FC: 33. Liam REDDY (GK), 5. Rhys WILLIAMS (4. Shane LOWRY 81′ ), 6. Dino DJULBIC, 8. Rostyn GRIFFITHS (C), 10. Nebojsa MARINKOVIC (28. Joseph KNOWLES 83′), 14. Chris HAROLD (7. Joel CHIANESE 77’), 15. Brandon WILSON, 16. Joseph MILLS, 17. Diego CASTRO, 19. Josh RISDON, 22. Adam TAGGART
Subs: 13. Nicholas FEELY (GK), 20. Aryn WILLIAMS,
Yellow Cards: Chris HAROLD 2’, Dino DJULBIC 18’
Red Cards: Nil
Coach: Kenny Lowe
Brisbane Roar FC: Michael THEO (GK), 3. Luke DE VERE (45. Cameron CRESTANI 81′) 8. Jacob PEPPER, 9. Jamie MACLAREN (26. Nicholas D’AGOSTINO 65’) , 11. Thomas OAR (10. Brett HOLMAN 55’), 13. Jade NORTH, 17. Matthew MCKAY, 22. Thomas BROICH, 28. Brandon BORRELLO, 29. Joe CALETTI, 50. Dane INGHAM
Subs: 43. Tomislav BILIC (GK), 15. Manuel ARANA
Yellow Cards: Thomas BROICH 18’, Michael THEO 39’, Jacob PEPPER 42’
Red Cards: Nil
Coach: John Aloisi
