Perth Glory have stretched their unbeaten run to five games with a 1-all draw against Sydney FC in hot and humid conditions in Campbelltown.
Perth Glory have stretched their unbeaten run to five games with a 1-all draw against Sydney FC in hot and humid conditions in Campbelltown.
A goal from Adam Hughes in the 87th minute secured Perth Glory a deserved point from their third straight game on the road.
It was a gut busting effort by the Glory after a travel schedule in the past 20 days that has included four of five games away and five flights.
With the temperature soaring, both sides struggled for fluency early on and Perth suffered an early blow when defender Bas van den Brink had to be withdrawn after a heavy fall.
The loss did not hurt the visitors too much though as captain Jacob Burns was outstanding when moved to centre back.
Brazilian Andrezinho had the best early chance, beating his marker with a sublime touch with his head only to fire his shot well-wide of the target.
Midfielder Karol Kisel was beginning to get involved for Sydney, and nearly found Brett Emerton at the back post with a dangerous cross just on the half-hour mark.
Minutes later the Slovakian tried himself, collecting the ball in traffic in the box and flashing a shot just wide of Danny Vukovic’s goal.
Perth had had the bulk of possession in the first period, but it was the Sky Blues who went ahead on the stroke of half-time against the run of play.
A Nicky Carle cross from the right flank found Mark Bridge unmarked at the back-post, and his side-footed volley snuck past the back post.
Again chances were few and far between in the second period, and it looked like Steve Pantelidis may have spurned Perth’s best opportunity to equalise when he missed the target with a free header after being picked out by a Mile Sterjovski free-kick on 73 minutes.
But the Glory showed great character and spirit and with two fresh substitutes, Adam Taggart and Evan Berger, kept coming at Sydney and they got the goal they deserved.
Berger-s brilliant corner was headed home by Hughes into the bottom left corner of the goal for his first goal for Glory.
