Perth Glory FC has extended its unbeaten Hyundai A-League run against Melbourne Victory to six games with a thrilling 3-2 win at nib Stadium on Saturday night, Diego Castro proving once again to be a class above the rest.
Andy Keogh opened the scoring in the 27th minute with an incredible strike. Ante Covic cleared away a dangerous through ball all the way to the Glory final third. The clearance found Keogh, who caught Danny Vukovic too far off his line, chipping his first touch over the former Perth goalkeeper.
Just two minutes later the home team doubled its advantage. Midfielder Nebo Marinkovic fired a shot from the top of the box, which forced a diving save from Vukovic. Keogh was there for the rebound but could only find the near post with his shot. However, with Vukovic still out of position Castro was there for the tap-in, finding the open net with ease for his 8th goal of the season.
A minute before the halftime whistle Besart Berisha cut into the Glory lead. The Albanian spun into the box and slipped his shot past Ante Covic.
In the 58th minute Fahid Ben Khalfallah was shown a straight red card for kicking out at Shane Lowry as the centre back walked by.
Berisha scored his second of the match in the 68th minute to bring Victory level, heading it past Covic following a corner kick.
Victory wouldn’t leave nib Stadium happy, however with Diego Castro sealing the three points for Perth in the 82nd minute. Keogh was pushed from behind in the box by Matthieu Delpierre, leaping to meet a Josh Risdon cross and the referee pointed to the spot.
Castro stepped up to take the spot. The Spaniard was cool, calm and collected as he slotted the ball home with a delightful chip past Vukovic who guessed left. It was Castro’s 9th goal of the season.
Perth born Shane Lowry made his debut on the night, putting in a quality performance in the centre of defence for his home-town club, helping Glory earn the vital three points.
Glory travels to New Zealand next weekend to face off against Wellington.
Perth returns to nib Stadium to host Brisbane Roar on February 20.
ADULT tickets to the match will be priced at $20 for any seat in the house.
KEY MOMENTS
- 5’ Nebo Marinkovic takes the first shot toward goal, missing wide of the near post
- 14’ Oliver Bozanic with a low-driven free kick through the wall and just wide of the post
- 18’ Alex Grant goes down in the box on a long free kick, but the referee waves it off, no penalty
- 27’ Andy Keogh chips an out of position Danny Vukovic with his first touch after a long ball from Ante Covic, his first goal of the season.
- 28’ Another chance for Keogh, set up by Chris Harold this time, but it’s blocked by Thomas Deng
- 29’ Diego Castro finishes off a flurry of Glory chances into an open net after Keogh’s shot ricochets off the near post
- 34’ Leigh Broxham’s shot is blocked by Finkler, but the referee points for a corner kick
- 35’ Daniel Georgievski gets on the end of the corner but sends it just over the bar
- 40’ Nebo Marinkovic smashes a free kick from distance on target, saved onto the crossbar by Vukovic
- 44’ Besart Berisha cuts the Glory lead in half with a finish from inside the box.
- 46’ Harold finds Keogh with a cutback, but the Irishman fires right at Vukovic
- 55’ Daniel Georgievski hits a half-volley on target from the top of the box, saved by Covic
- 58’ Fahid Ben Khalfallah shown a straight red card for a kick on Shane Lowry’s heel
- 68’ Berisha levels the score with a header following a corner kick
- 71’ Alex Grant gets on the end of a Marinkovic free kick, but his header can only find the crossbar
- 77’ Kosta Barbarouses gets in behind the defence, but Covic is quick off his line to force a corner
- 81’ Keogh earns a penalty as he is pushed from behind Delpierre
- 82’ Diego Castro with the panenka penalty kick to score his 2nd of the match
WHAT THEY SAID
KENNY LOWE:
“It was a good performance. They’re a super team. They ask some massive questions, even at 10 men. When we had to step up again, we stepped up again. I thought the first half, I’m not sure you’ll see a better game, end to end really”
“We had a great chance 30 seconds into the 2nd half to make it 3-1, and we hit the post as well, another great move, but Grantie was offside. Thought we deserved it”
“The attacking flare has been like that for six or seven games, and we just didn’t convert chances. We’ve done quite well, we just haven’t finished. There’s been a big onus on players taking responsibility, and they deserve every chance they get”
“Lowry is a super player. His pedigree speaks for itself. I thought he had a fantastic game”
“I’m not bothered who scores. Andy looks sharp. Castro has been playing like he’s from a different planet. He’s that good.”
TEAMS
Perth Glory: 1. Ante COVIC (GK), 2. Alex GRANT, 3. Marc WARREN, 4. Shane LOWRY 7, Gyorgy SANDOR, 9. Andy KEOGH, 10. Nebojsa MARINKOVIC (11. Richard Garcia 90’), 13. Diogo FERREIRA (18. Mitchell Oxborrow 77’), 14. Chris HAROLD (24. Jamal Reiners 76’), 17. Diego CASTRO, 19. Josh RISDON (C), 29. Aryn WILLIAMS
Melbourne Victory: 1. Daniel VUKOVIC (GK), 2. Jason GERIA, 5. Daniel GEORGIEVSKI, 6. Leigh BROXHAM (C) (16. Rashid Mahazi 83’), 7. Guilherme FINKLER (10. Archie Thompson 67’), 8. Besart BERISHA, 9. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 13. Oliver BOZANIC, 14. Fahid BEN KHALFALLAH, 17. Matthieu DELPIERRE, 24. Thomas DENG (4. Nicholas Ansell ’73)
Scorers: Keogh 27’, Castro 29, 82’ Berisha 44’, 68’
Red cards: Ben Khalfallah 57’
Yellow cards: Georgievski 5’, Oxborrow 87’, Marinkovic 88’, Mahazi 90’
Conditions: 21 degrees and sunny
Attendance: 10,501
