Perth Glory snapped their ten game losing streak, after a come from behind 2-1 win against Newcastle Jets at the nib Stadium. Former Glory striker Adam Taggart gave the visitors the lead on the hour, but led by inspirational skipper Jacob Burns and defender Michael Thwaite, the Glory hit back with goals to Nebojsa Marinkovic and Chris Harold in the space of two minutes to send the home crowd into raptures.
Perth Glory snapped their ten game losing streak, after a come from behind 2-1 win against Newcastle Jets at the nib Stadium. Former Glory striker Adam Taggart gave the visitors the lead on the hour, but led by inspirational skipper Jacob Burns and defender Michael Thwaite, the Glory hit back with goals to Nebojsa Marinkovic and Chris Harold in the space of two minutes to send the home crowd into raptures.
Kenny Lowe made two changes to the side beaten by Western Sydney Wanderers last week, with Josh Risdon in for Matthew Davies at the back, while Steven McGarry replaced Ryan Edwards, who dropped to the bench. The Jets fresh off a stunning 5-0 win against Wellington Phoenix last week went into the game unchanged, looking to end their Perth hoodoo.
The home side were out of the blocks early, and Thwaite sent Jack Clisby down the left, his inch perfect cross found Harold, but his shot from eight-yards flashed wide of the target.
Then on nine minutes the Glory almost handed the lead to the Jets. There looked little danger when Risdon played the ball back to Jack Duncan, but the Glory custodian-s mistake let in Taggart, who round the keeper, but luckily fired into the side netting.
It was still the home side who were on top and Marinkovic-s shot on the turn was saved by Ben Kennedy on the quarter hour, before the Jets keeper was alert to save Jamie Maclaren-s strike on the run ten minutes later.
The Glory were pressing and a Risdon shot from the edge of the penalty area was straight at Kennedy, before Harold wriggled clear of his marker on the half hour, but Dutch defender Kew Jaliens deflected his shot wide.
Despite their dominance it was the Jets who had the best opportunity four minutes before the break. Emile Heskey-s through ball found Taggart, and with the Glory backline looking for the offside flag, that never came, Taggart raced clear, but Duncan spread himself well to deny the striker, and at the break it was all square.
The Glory suffered a huge blow at the break with marquee defender William Gallas unable to retake the field; he was replaced by Brandon O-Neill.
Despite the loss the Glory opened brightly, and Marinkovic-s snap shot was pushed around the post by Kennedy, and moments later Jack Clisby-s curling cross was only inches away from Maclaren in the penalty area.
But on 62 minutes and somewhat against the run of play the Jets hit the front. Heskey found the overlapping David Carney on the left, his first time cross picked out Taggart who fired home from six yards.
The introduction of Brazilian winger Sidnei just after the goal turned the game for the home side. Marinkovic saw his shot crash of the post ten minutes, before O-Neill-s shot from the edge of the penalty flashed inches past the post moments later.
But on 84 minutes the Glory levelled. Joel Griffiths brought the lively Sidnei down on the edge of the penalty area, and Marinkovic-s set piece curled up around the wall into the top corner of the net giving Jets keeper Kennedy no chance.
The Glory faithful had just stopped celebrating when their side hit the front sixty seconds later. Man of the match, Thwaite sent Sidnei clear down the left, his inch perfect cross found Harold who headed superbly past Kennedy from eight-yards, and he celebrated with the fans in the Shed.
It was an unbelievable turn around for the Glory, but on possession in the game they deserved it, but could they hang on for the points?
The Jets pushed forward looking for the late equaliser, but Thwaite and O-Neill were superb to thwart their final onslaught, and at the final whistle it was the Glory celebrating a hard fought, gutsy performance and three points to celebrate for the loyal supporters.
Hyundai A-League – Round 25
Perth Glory 2 (Marinkovic 84-, Harold 85-)
Newcastle Jets 1 (Taggart 61-)
Sunday 30th March 2014
Venue – nib Stadium
Attendance – 5,837
Referee – Rhys Griffiths-Jones
Perth Glory – GK Jack DUNCAN, 2 Jack CLISBY, 5 Rostyn GRIFFITHS (16 Sidnei SCIOLA MORAES 65-), 7 Jacob BURNS, 8 Nebojsa MARINKOVIC, 10 Jamie MACLAREN (28 Darvydas SERNAS 55-), 14 Steven MCGARRY, 17 Chris HAROLD, 19 Josh RISDON, 23 Michael THWAITE, 36 William GALLAS (3 Brandon O-NEILL 46-)
Subs not used – RGK Luke RADONICH, 4 Ryan EDWARDS
Yellow Cards – Risdon 45-, McGarry 76-, Sidnei 81-
Newcastle Jets – GK Ben KENNEDY, 4 Kew JALIENS, 6 Zenon CARAVELLA, (5 Ben KANTAROVSKI 27-) 8 Ruben ZADKOVICH (C), 9 Emile HESKEY, 14 Josh MITCHELL, 15 Josh BRILLANTE, 21 Sam GALLAWAY (19 Michael BRIDGES 90-), 22 Adam TAGGART, 23 David CARNEY (11 Craig GOODWIN 80-), 29 Joel GRIFFITHS
Subs not used – RGK Mark BIRIGHITTI, 24 Mitchell OXBORROW
Yellow Cards – Heskey 91-
