George Timotheou’s own goal cost Adelaide United as Perth Glory rallied late to complete a tenacious 2-1 comeback win at Coopers Stadium.
Substitute Daniel Stynes’ 83rd-minute strike was deflected past helpless Reds keeper James Delianov, 10 minutes after Bruno Fornaroli had breached the Adelaide defence for the first time at Coopers Stadium this season, as Richard Garcia’s team made it back-to-back wins on the road.
Carl Veart’s side had claimed consecutive wins and a pair of clean sheets from their two matches in the City of Churches and the hosts seemed set to make that three after returning captain Stefan Mauk netted his second goal of the campaign midway through the first half and the Reds were keeping the competition's top scorers contained.
Mauk was engaged in an intense battle with Neil Kilkenny, and the ex-Melbourne City teammates exchanged fierce words at half-time, as Glory struggled to find a way through the Reds defence despite them losing stalwart Michael Jakobsen to injury on his 100th A-League outing. At the other end, Ben Halloran was causing Perth endless problems in his 50th game in Red after claiming an assist for the opener.
A limping Yaya Dukuly was withdrawn as rising star Al-Hassan Toure made his comeback seven months after his last appearance, while Glory’s Andy Keogh was also a first-half casualty. But after 25 goals had been scored in the last four meetings between these clubs, the sides were not able to replicate the same attacking intensity through much of this clash in South Australia.
The introduction of the electric Mohamed Toure gave Glory cause for concern as Adelaide countered after the interval, but Diego Castro’s brilliant vision and execution opened the door for Fornaroli to equalise from Kilkenny's cross, before Timotheou turned the ball into his own net as Perth took all three points back to WA, where they have to self-isolate for 14 days ahead of their next match against Melbourne City.
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Key moments
Glory had ran riot, winning an eight-goal thriller 5-3, in WA only 16 days ago, but there was no early drama in blustery Adelaide, with the first attempt on goal from either team not arriving until Reds attacker Ben Halloran fired a 13th-minute shot straight at keeper Tando Velaphi. A moment later, Perth were living dangerously when Dane Ingham tripped Halloran inside the area but Glory were saved by an offside flag.
Star striker Tomi Juric and midfielder Stefan Mauk returned to the Carl Veart’s line-up, but it was the Reds captain making his impact in the penalty area as the dangerous Halloran surged down the right once again in the 20th minute and delivered a precise cutback from Mauk to drill in his second goal of the campaign. Glory were struggling to get a foothold as Nick Sullivan skewed a crossing opportunity wildly off target.
The visitors were fielding a front four of Diego Castro, Nick D’Agostino, Bruno Fornaroli and Andy Keogh but it took Perth until the 32nd minute to show some cutting edge when Keogh chased down Brandon Wilson’s flick and drove an effort at James Delianov. Halloran gave Glory another scare but Velaphi raced out to smother Juric’s pass, before Fornaroli slammed a shot over and Castro scuffed an attempt at Delianov.
Adelaide lost Yaya Dukuly and Michael Jakobsen to injuries, while Keogh's night also ended early as both teams were forced to adjust, and Glory almost gifted away a second on the cusp of half-time when Halloran stole the ball from Darryl Lachman but dragged his shot wide. Veart introduced Mohamed Toure at the interval, following his older brother Al-Hassan off the bench, and the 16-year-old was quick to impress.
The younger Toure showed his electric pace to concern the away side's stretched defence as Glory pushed for an equaliser, with substitute Carlo Armiento drawing a save from Delianov and Castro almost forcing his way through as the clock ticked past the hour mark. It was Al-Hassan’s turn to threaten on the break next, firing into the side netting, and Juric’s cross was a fraction away from Mohamed Toure’s outstretched boot.
Nathan Konstandopoulos powered another Adelaide effort over but, as the clock ticked closer to 90, the Reds began to sink deeper and Glory upped the tempo. Castro then showed his class, releasing Kilkenny with a perfectly-timed pass, and Fornaroli did the rest from close range, beating Yared Abetew to the ball and piercing the Reds' armour for the first time at Coopers Stadium.
Rocked from the equaliser, the Reds were suddenly pinned in their own penalty box. Castro was weaving his way through once more and, when the ball dropped to Jonathan Aspropotamitis, the Glory defender did superbly to roll a pass into the path of substitute Stynes. After scoring late against Melbourne City last week, the youngster could not claim another goal for himself but he still reeled away in celebration as Perth claimed a dramatic winner in the closing stages.
There was time for one last Adelaide effort, with Juric trying to replicate Castro's quality with a chipped effort from 25 yards. However, the Socceroos striker was not able to produce the moment of magic the Reds needed and his attempt sailed over the crossbar to safety as Glory return to locked-down Perth with six points from their last two away matches.
Next fixtures
Matchweek 8
Macarthur FC v Adelaide United
Friday, 12 February 2021
Venue: Campbelltown Stadium
Kick-off: 7.05pm AEDT
Match Centre
Matchweek 9
Perth Glory v Melbourne City
Saturday, 20 February 2021
Venue: HBF Park
Kick-off: 9.20pm AEDT
Match Centre
Ways to watch
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