Sydney FC suffered a second dose of last minute heartache in a week with Perth Glory scoring a late equaliser to draw 1-1 at Campbelltown Stadium this afternoon.
Sydney FC suffered a second dose of last minute heartache in a week with Perth Glory scoring a late equaliser to draw 1-1 at Campbelltown Stadium this afternoon.
For the second match in succession Sydney FC took the lead through Mark Bridge in the first half only to concede late.
Sydney FC Coach Vitezslav Lavicka stayed true to the side that played brilliantly against Brisbane Roar before the last minute mayhem, making just one forced change with Sebastian Ryall coming into the side for the suspended Pascal Bosschaart.
There were however two changes on the bench with a first appearance on the team sheet for defender Nathan Sherlock and a return for speedster Mitchell Mallia, who scored in his comeback from injury on Sunday with the Sydney FC Youth Team.
The match was played in stifling afternoon heat at Campbelltown, which dictated a cautious pace early on. So hot was the weather that referee Matt Gillett agreed to have a drink break midway through each half.
Perth suffered an early blow when central defender Bas Van Den Brink was forced off the field after he clashed heavily with Sydney FC defender Michael Beauchamp at a Sky Blues corner.
Sydney FC managed to have the majority of possession in the first half without engineering a large number of chances although a delightful Karol Kisel cross was only inches away from Brett Emerton at the far post in the 29th minute.
Kisel had a great opportunity himself in the 33rd minute when a Scott Jamieson corner was half-cleared by the Perth defence and Kisel-s shot from the edge of the penalty area flashed wide of the left hand post.
Liam Reddy had very little to do in the Sydney FC goal although he did have to react quickly to get down to the near post following a cheeky free kick attempt from Perth-s Liam Miller in the 36th minute.
The pressure finally took its toll in the 44th minute when Mark Bridge scored his second goal in two matches and his second against Perth Glory this season with a well placed volley after Nick Carle bamboozled the Perth defence and crossed to the far post.
Sydney FC almost made it 2-0 in the shadows of half time when Terry Antonis made a great run to get behind the Perth defence only for Danny Vukovic to make a great save down low.
Sydney FC continued to dominate possession after the break and Carle had a great opportunity to find the back of the net in the 52nd minute when a miscued Perth clearance ballooned into his path just 10m from goal but his shot screwed wide.
Perth did manage to work their way back into the game midway through the second half and had two chances in the 61st and 62nd minute when Perth had a chance to shoot from the edge of the penalty area but Scott Jamieson and Rhyan Grant did well to block both opportunities.
Sydney FC managed to take back the high ground and when young striker Mitchell Mallia came into the game the Perth defence looked stretched.
Nathan Sherlock also came into the game for his A-League debut in the latter stages and made a great last-ditched tackle in the 85th minute, which looked like it would save the day for Sydney FC.
Three minutes later however, Perth equalised when Adam Hughes met a corner with a tame header that found its way between Jamieson and the near post to break Sydney FC hearts again as the game finished 1-1.
Sydney FC has yet another short turn around, this time facing Gold Coast United at the Sydney Football Stadium this Sunday afternoon (22 January). Kick off for the match is 5pm.
Sydney FC 1 (Mark Bridge 44) drew Perth Glory 1 (Adam Hughes 88)
Campbelltown Stadium
Crowd: 5,505
Referee: Matt Gillett
Sydney FC: 1. Liam Reddy, 2. Sebastian Ryall, 5. Michael Beauchamp, 7. Brett Emerton (24. Mitchell Mallia ‘77), 8. Karol Kisel (9. Bruno Cazarine ‘88), 10 Nick Carle, 15. Terry McFlynn (c), 17. Terry Antonis (22. Nathan Sherlock ‘87), 19. Mark Bridge, 21. Scott Jamieson, 23. Rhyan Grant.
Sub not used: 20. Ivan Necevski,.
Yellow cards: Terry McFlynn 61, Scott Jamieson 68, Mark Bridge 92)
Red cards: Nil
Perth Glory: 1. Danny Vukovic, 3. Bas van den Brink (8. Adam Hughes ‘16), 5. Steve Pantelidis, 7. Jacob Burns, 9. Shane Smeltz, 10. Liam Miller, 14. Steven McGarry, 17. Todd Howarth, 19. Josh Risdon, 21. Mile Sterjovski (22. Adam Taggart ‘78), 27. Andrezinho (16. Evan Berger ‘80).
Sub not used: 30. Lewis Italiano (gk).
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil
