A-League – What We Learned – Perth Glory 3 Melbourne City 2

A-League – What We Learned – Perth Glory 3 Melbourne City 2

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Chris Hearn
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Perth Glory have moved to third position on the A-League ladder after a 3-2 win over fellow title-contenders Melbourne City at nib Stadium on Sunday.

In-form striker Andy Keogh put Glory ahead 10 minutes after half time, before Gyorgy Sandor increased the lead midway through the second half as the visitors struggled to find their usual attacking fluidity.

Diego Castro’s contender for goal of the season put the hosts into a commanding position before Bruno Fornaroli scored his 23rd of the campaign to give City hope. Substitute Marc Marino netted a late second goal for the visitors, setting up a nervous final few minutes, but time was on the side of the Glory and held on for maximum points.

Keogh and Castro get it done for Glory

The Irishman’s strike on 55 minutes was a bread-and-butter finish for the forward, and in doing that, broke the record for scoring in eight consecutive fixtures as well as City’s resolve

After squandering a golden opportunity to open the scoring on seven minutes, the Irishman sat on the periphery of this fixture before putting his side ahead in an effort more befitting of his usual efficiency.

Diego Castro is staking a claim to be named the A-League’s player of the season. His goal, volleying home a looping cross from 20 yards past Thomas Sorensen was quality the likes the A-League has rarely seen.

 

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City fail to fire at second last hurdle

John Van’t Schip’s side had its destiny in its own hands before this result. Now, three results must go City’s way in the penultimate home-and-away round of the season, including the visit of Adelaide United to AAMI Park on Friday night.

It was a tough ask to try and contain Glory’s razor-sharp attack, while maintaining a consistent game plan with Aaron Mooy and Alex Wilkinson restored to the line-up after being called up to the Socceroos squad.

In particular, Mooy never really got out of first gear. After partaking in both matches for Ange Postecoglou’s squad, a typically domineering performance looked highly unlikely. Van’t Schip would usually allow Jacob Melling to share the workload with his team-mate, but the youngster was injured in the warm up. A tough day at the office for the title-hopefuls.

Shane Lowry – promising talent, but cut out the theatrics

Shane Lowry’s clash with Bruno Fornaroli was an ugly look for the player, the A-League, and football in general. Not ugly because the two players came together after a physical altercation in midfield, but because the 1.85cm, 80kg+ defender felt the need to drop to his feet in an attempt to have the Uruguayan sent off.

Both players contributed to this situation by leaning in, with Fornaroli’s act of leaning in ever so slightly more forceful, but the contact was innocuous at best and certainly not enough to floor a man of Lowry’s stature. Thankfully, referee Shaun Evans surveyed the situation intelligently, and made nothing of the fracas.

Unfortunately, the young defender has form for this kind of thing.

In round 16, when Fahid Ben-Khalfallah frustratingly lashed out a leg that made the slightest contact with Glory defender Shane Lowry – the __ year old collapsed to the ground and clutched a seemingly sore ankle. Replays proved that Lowry had not only ‘milked’ the contact, but dived, knowing that he had nothing to lose, and might be able to con the referee into sending the Tunisian off. Ben Williams was the referee on that occasion, and obliged the Glory man.

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