A first half penalty is all that separated Perth Glory Youth and an in form Queensland Roar Youth side at BCG Stadium in Perth with the visitors taking the three points with a 38th minute conversion from the spot.
A first half penalty is all that separated Perth Glory Youth and an in form Queensland Roar Youth side at BCG Stadium in Perth with the visitors taking the three points with a 38th minute conversion from the spot.
Both sides created several quality opportunities to score during the first half but it was Queensland that opened their account when Glory defender Steven Hesketh was adjudged to have dragged down Timothy Smits just inside the area and Luke Bratten stepped up to convert the penalty.
The Glory pushed their fancied rivals all the way in the second half as they upped their intensity but the hosts weren-t able to find the back of the net even with Perth defender Dean Evans forcing a full-length save from Roar stopper Matthew Acton in injury time.
The result sees Perth remain fourth while Queensland are third and still two points from a finals spot with one round remaining.
In an end to end first half the Glory controlled the majority of possession and had their fair share of chances however the visitors were also able to carve out several good opportunities to entertain the crowd who turned out to watch the next generation of Australian footballers.
Perth’s Cameron Edwards almost opened the scoring in the fifth minute as his curling cross swung towards goal and forced Acton into a fingertip save around the post.
The Roar countered immediately and Smits was unlucky not get on the score sheet, the striker taking too long to control dead in front and had his shot well blocked by Ryan Pearson. The versatile youngster was one of the prime movers for the Glory from left back working in tandem with midfielder Hayden Doyle.
Throughout the first 30 minutes the Glory looked dangerous but the hosts either fired over the bar or sent their shots directly at Acton. Midfielder Howard Fondyke had a number of good chances which continued after the break sending two powerful efforts cannoning off the defence, while Doyle sent a ripping free kick from 35 metres that flew narrowly past the post.
The Glory’s lack of a clinical edge continued to haunt them, in the 54th minute a good ball from Edwards set up Pearson on the left but his shot was over the bar. A short time later Ludovic Boi produced a terrific run down the right, the terrier-like 19-year-old cutting inside three defenders and firing a low effort centimetres wide of the post.
Eighteen minutes from time Adam Sarota’s free kick for Queensland from 20 metres forced a good save from reserve Glory goalkeeper Alex Pearson.
Having taken the lead Queensland was content to soak up the pressure during the latter stages of the half and maintained possession in defence and midfield to frustrate the Glory who was desperately looking for an equaliser.
There was still, however, time for drama during added time as a powerful curling effort from Evans was athletically tipped around the post by Acton before Glory midfielder James Sammut was sent from the ground after a miss timed tackle just before the final whistle.
National Youth League Rd20
Perth Glory 0
Queensland Roar 1 (Luke Brattan 38-)
BGC Stadium at Dorrien Gardens, Perth
Saturday 7 February 2009
Referee: David Costello
Assistant Referees: Josh Mihevc, Tim Mihevc
Fourth Official: Trent Fleskens
Perth Glory line-up: 1.Dejan ALEKSIC (gk) (40.Alex PEARSON (gk) 60-), 2.Ryan PEARSON, 3.Steven HESKETH, 4.Josh RISDON (5.Lewis HALL 60-), 6.Dean EVANS, 8.Howard FONDYKE (10.Adam LUCA 60-), 9.Hayden DOYLE, 11.Ludovic BOI, 12.Reece VITTIGLIA, 13.Andrija JUKIC, 14.Cameron EDWARDS (7.James SAMMUT 55-)
Substitutes not used: Nil
Yellow cards: Lewis Hall 70-, Andrija Jukic 71-
Red Cards: James Sammut 90-+2
Queensland Roar line-up: 1.Matt ACTON (gk), 4.Matt MUNDY (6.William TUMUSIIME 60-), 5.Brad McDONALD (3.Daniel BOWLES 58-), 7.Adam SAROTA, 9.Tim SMITS (OA), 10.Luke BRATTAN (12.Robbie KRUSE 72-), 11.Josh McVEY, 12.Robbie KRUSE (2.Michael RYAN 55-), 13.Chris GROSSMAN, 15.Luke DE VERE, 16.Ben GRIFFIN (OA)
Substitutes not used: Nil
Yellow cards: Chris Grossman 47-, Robbie Kruse 90-+2
Red Cards: Nil
