Perth Glory’s Andy Keogh matched the Australian record for most consecutive scoring matches, as Glory defeated a spirited Newcastle Jets 2-1 at Hunter Stadium.
Keogh scored in his 7th consecutive match of Australian top division football, matching the record previously set and equalled by John Kosmina, Andy Harper and Marc Janko. In the 88th minute, the Irishman burst into the Jets’ box from the right, before winning a penalty after being brought down by Nigel Boogaard. The Jets centre-back was given a straight red card, before Keogh coolly dispatched his spot kick into the bottom left corner, sending goalkeeper Mark Birighitti the wrong way.
The first half ended scoreless but was closely fought between both sides from the outset. Jets forwards Mitch Cooper and Morten Nordstand and Glory’s Diego Castro came close through the first stanza, however the best chance fell for Richard Garcia in the 42nd minute. Garcia forced one of the saves of the season out of Birighitti, the Jets custodian reacting quickly after the veteran latched onto a deflected cross from Castro.
The second half started off in similar style, before Krisztian Vadocz opened the scoring in the 72nd minute. Glory defender Shane Lowry flicked on a powerful header from a Nebojsa Marinkovic corner, causing a scramble at the back post that fell kindly for the Hungarian. Vadocz made no mistake as he drove a powerful strike through a sea of legs into the back of the net.
Soon after Glory’s second goal via Keogh, Jets found a consolation goal deep into stoppage time. Ryan Kitto hit the ground after making contact with Dino Djulbic in the box, prompting referee Kris Griffiths-Jones to point to the spot again and send off Glory’s centre-back for a second bookable offence. Jets midfielder Mateo Poljak stepped up to finish the penalty to Covic’s left, despite the Glory custodian getting a fingertip to the strike.
The win all but confirms Glory’s Hyundai A-League finals involvement, with seventh placed Sydney FC needing 9 points and closing a goal difference gap of 11 goals in their next three games.
Key moments
First Half
4’ Castro retrieves a stray shot from Warren and cuts back a low cross just behind Chris Harold on the top of the 6 yard box, his shot goes well over the crossbar.
10’ Cooper latches onto a through ball and tries to chip Covic one-on-one, the Glory custodian standing tall to tip away the strike for a Jets corner.
16’ Ryan Kitto tries a curling strike from just inside the 18 yard box, but it’s well over the far post top corner.
36’ Morten Nordstrand curls a shot from the edge of the Glory box, tipping the top-side of the crossbar and continuing its trajectory out for a goal kick.
37’ Vadocz finds Castro on the break away, the Spaniard cuts inside and strikes for the far bottom corner, forcing a smart save out of Birighitti.
42’ Castro’s deflected shot floats to Garcia at the back post, his close range strike saved brilliantly by Birighitti to the ‘keeper’s right.
43’ Grant connects with a powerful header on the resulting corner but his effort goes inches wide of the far post.
Second Half
55’ Cooper rises highest to meet a cross from a Leonardo free kick, his header loops wide of Covic’s far post.
58’ Keogh chips in a cross to Harold at the back post, his header goes well over Birighitti’s crossbar.
72’ 1-0 Glory. Lowry flicks on a corner to the far post, causing a scramble between Keogh and Boogaard that allows Vadocz to drive home a measured shot through a sea of legs.
79’ Jason Hoffman’s cross is tipped away by Covic to Leonardo on the penalty dot, but the Brazilian misses the follow up with a miss-kick.
80’ Castro plays a one-two with Keogh, before the Spaniard slams a powerful strike over the crossbar.
87’ Penalty Glory. Keogh breaks away down the right before Nigel Boogaard slides in to take him down as last man. Boogaard is sent off with a straight red card.
88’ 2-0 Glory. Andy Keogh sends Birighitti the wrong way, placing low to the bottom left corner.
90+1’ Penalty Newcastle. Kitto steams into the box and makes contact with Djulbic, going down as Kris Griffiths-Jones points to the spot and sends off Djulbic for a second bookable offence.
90+2’ Newcastle score, 2-1. Poljak strikes fiercely to the bottom right corner, despite Covic getting a fingertip to the shot.
Squads
Perth Glory FC: Ante COVIC, Marc WARREN, Alex GRANT, Shane LOWRY, Aryn WILLIAMS (Dino DJULBIC 46’), Krisztian VADOCZ, Gyorgy SANDOR (Mitch OXBORROW 90+1’), Richard GARCIA (C – Nebojsa MARINKOVIC 60’), Chris HAROLD, Diego CASTRO, Andy KEOGH.
Unused subs: Jerrad TYSON, Jamal REINERS
Newcastle Jets: Mark BIRIGHITTI, Nicholas COWBURN, Andrew BOOGARD, Ben KANTAROVSKI, Jason HOFFMAN, Steven UGARKOVIC, Mateo POLJAK, LEONARDO Santiago, Mitch COOPER (Andy BRENNAN 64’), Morten NORDSTRAND, Ryan KITTO.
Unused subs: Ben KENNEDY, Cameron WATSON, Lachlan JACKSON, Milos TRIFUNOVIC,
Yellow cards: Aryn WILLIAMS (31’), Nicholas COWBURN (42’), Shane LOWRY (54’), Jason HOFFMAN (63’), Ben KANTAROVSKI (64’), Dino DJULBIC (85’), Dino DJULBIC (90+1’)
Red cards: Nigel BOOGAARD (87’), Dino DJULBIC (90+1’)
Conditions: Clear
