Perth Glory have taken the spoils in a 2-1 victory over Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium.
Summary
Sydney FC 1 (Smeltz 79’) def. by Perth Glory (Keogh 23’, Harold 65’)
Perth Glory have taken the spoils in a 2-1 victory over Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium.
The Western Australia side netted twice either side of half time and despite a late Shane Smeltz strike and pressure on the Glory goal for the Sky Blues, the visitors remained vigilant to take points.
Sydney FC now head into the Sydney Derby at Allianz Stadium next weekend and four other massive games, including the start of their AFC Champions League 2016 campaign.
What They Said
Graham Arnold: “To be honest it wasn’t good enough. I can only say to all the Sydney FC fans that I’m working longer hours than I’ve ever worked, and more determined than ever, to fix this. I think the first goal killed us and knocked the confidence out of us and then you’re chasing the game.
“This week we’ve got the Derby and surely the boys can get fired up for that. We owe our fans. My job is to get them up as quick as possible, everyone goes through a difficult period, this has probably been the most difficult that I’ve ever had, but I’ll come out fighting.
“I say to all the fans, keep believing, keep trusting, keep supporting, because we’ll turn this around.”
Goals
23’ KEOGH GOAL – A cross from the Perth Glory right wing by Vadocz is fumbled through his legs by goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic and Keogh has an easy tap in.
65’ HAROLD GOAL – Sandor is played clear and shoots but Janjetovic is equal to it managing to parry however Harold is on hand to finish.
79’ SMELTZ GOAL – Tavares wins the ball and taps it to Ninkovic who plays in Smeltz and the striker places a smart right foot shot home on the angle.
Key Moments
28’ OFF THE BAR – A left wing corner ends up at the back post where Ryall heads back across goal and Lowry heads onto his own bar and away under pressure from Blackwood.
28’ BROSQUE PENALTY APPEAL – Sydney FC cross the ball into the box and as Brosque goes for the header Covic comes out and clatters him but referee waves away appeals.
37’ BROSQUE SHOT JUST WIDE – Nice interplay between Carney and Brosque puts the Sydney FC skipper free but he can’t quite curl his shot on target.
38’ NINKOVIC SHOT DEFLECTED WIDE – Blackwood releases Ninkovic down the right channel, the Serbian pulls the ball back onto his left and shoots but Perth foot is there to deflect it wide.
43’ NINKOVIC SHOT JUST WIDE – Grant hesitates at the back and Covic is forced to clear straight at Ninkovic but the Serbians chip over the keeper goes wide.
45’ + 1’ BLACKWOOD HEADER JUST WIDE – Carney chips a free-kick into the box and Blackwood loops a header just wide.
51’ KEOGH CHANCE – Harold gets clear on the left and races into the box before sliding a ball across the face of goal which Keogh narrowly misses.
54’ KEOGH CHANCE – Keogh is sent clear but slips as he prepares to shoot and it goes wide.
60’ CARNEY JUST WIDE – Ninkovic plays the ball wide to the overlapping Ryall on the right and he crosses the ball but it’s just inches away from Carney as he stretched in front of an open goal.
71’ SMELTZ CHANCE – Ninkovic slides the ball into Smeltz six yards from goal but his touch is heavy and Perth clear.
90’ + 3’ CARNEY CHANCE – Tavares chips the ball into the box to Carney but the winger just fails to take the ball down when a goalscoring chance would have presented itself had he done so.
Team News
Sydney FC 1 (Smeltz 79’) def. by Perth Glory (Keogh 23’, Harold 65’)
Head Coach Graham Arnold made three changes to the starting line-up against Adelaide United eight days earlier. Alex Brosque returned from injury to replace the suspended Matt Simon who had accrued five yellow cards. David Carney made is full debut for the club in place of Christopher Naumoff while George Blackwood came in on the right of the attack to replace Filip Holosko who was suffering with hamstring tightness.
Crowd: 11,559
Ground: Allianz Stadium
Referee: Ben Williams
Sydney FC: 1. Vedran JANJETOVIC (gk), 2. Seb RYALL, 5. Matt JURMAN, 8. Milos DIMITRIJEVIC (9. Shane SMELTZ 67’), 10. Milos NINKOVIC, 14. Alex BROSQUE (captain), 17. David CARNEY, 19. Jacques FATY, 23. Rhyan GRANT (22. Ali ABBAS 45’), 24. George BLACKWOOD (6. Robert STAMBOLZIEV 53’), 27. Mickael TAVARES.
Subs not used: 20. Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 13. Brandon O’NEILL.
Yellow cards: Stambolziev 68’, Abbas 73’, Tavares 84’.
Red cards: None
Perth Glory: 1.Ante COVIC (gk), 2.Alex GRANT, 3.Marc WARREN, 4.Shane LOWRY, 7.Gyorgy SANDOR, 9.Andy KEOGH, 10.Nebojsa MARINKOVIC, 14.Chris HAROLD (21.Kosta PETRATOS 72’), 17.Diego CASTRO, 19.Josh RISDON (captain), 23.Krisztian VADOCZ.
Subs not used: 12.Jerrad TYSON (gk), 11.Richard GARCIA, 13.Diogo FERREIRA, 29.Aryn WILLIAMS.
Yellow cards: Risdon 10’, Warren 72’.
Red cards: None.
