Perth Glory FC has lost its Hyundai A-League RD 6 clash against Brisbane Roar 1-0.
Glory arrived at Suncorp Stadium on the back of last week’s FFA Cup final loss searching for three vital A-League points.
With injuries to Gyorgy Sandor, Chris Harold, Mitch Oxborrow, Dino Djulbic and the loss of Josh Risdon (Socceroos), Glory had to re-shuffle its line-up.
The match started evenly with neither team taking the upper hand until the hosts started to dominate play and possession mid-way through the first-half.
Brisbane looked dangerous through Dimitri Petratos who hit the post on 26’ and three minutes later fired the ball over the bar. He came within inches of scoring, just before half-time after firing a long range shot.
The best chance of the half however came for Glory in stoppage time, when Guyon Fernandez floated in a deep cross to Marc Warren who found himself in space inside the box but his first touch let him down, allowing the Roar defender to block his shot.
The second 45’ saw Glory hit the field with a different line-up again. Michael Thwaite slotted into midfield and Sidnei Sciola replaced Fernandez up front.
At the 57’ Perth captain Richard Garcia pounced on a loose ball to find himself one-on-one with Roar ‘keeper Jamie Young, who did enough to put Garcia off his line and steer the danger away.
Thwaite tested Young from outside the box in the 71’ forcing the Roar keeper to parry the shot for a corner and two minutes later Diego Castro’s shot on goal was deflected but didn’t trouble Young too much.
Brisbane hit the front in the 74’ after Roar substitute Henrique flicked the ball over an advancing Ante Covic, who was hardly tested on the night.
Kenny Lowe threw on 17-year old striker Jamal Reiners with 12 minutes to go to mark his A-League debut and to add more pace in Glory’s attack.
Petratos hit the post in the 88’ before Glory continued to press for an equaliser in the dying stages of the match.
Reiners was brought down in injury time outside the box, paving the way for dead-ball specialist Nebo Marinkovic to pull off some magic but Young dived to his left to save the shot.
At the final whistle Brisbane walked off with the three points.
Glory will re-group to face Sydney FC at nib Stadium next Saturday.
MATCH DETAILS
Scorer: Henrique 74′
Brisbane Roar: 1
Perth Glory FC: 0
Venue:Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 11748
Perth Glory FC: Covic, Williams, Thwaite, Golec, Warren, Ferreira, Gligor, Marinkovic, Garcia, Fernandez, Castro
Substitutes: Tyson, Grant (45’) , Sciola (45), Collard, Reiners (78’)
Brisbane Roar FC: Stefanutto, Corona, Lustica, North (C), Bowles, Hingert, Young (GK), Broich, Petratos, Borrello, D’Agostino
Substitutes: Henrique (58’), Donachie, Clut (64’), Hervas (73’) , Jannese (GK)
