SPRING IN PERTH

Spring had sprung at Perth Oval but it was the Brisbane Strikers who had the spring in  their step when they took on the Perth Glory in what is historically a high scoring fixture.

The last time Brisbane had beaten Perth Glory at Perth Oval was in the '99-'00 season, and then was it only the third time from 12 meetings that the Strikers have ever held the upper hand over Glory. That does not mean matches between the two sides have not been an exiting spectacle. Far from it, and today was no difference.

It took Glory only five minutes to have a first shot at goal, when Mori had his shot expertly blocked by Kearton. This was to be a rarity however, as Brisbane kept its promise to go all-out on attack.

A 4-3-3 formation with Fernando Rech in the centre proved a deadly combination as early as the ninth minute when he found himself onside and fired the ball across the face of goal, past Petkovic an into the right-hand corner and the score was 0:1.

At the fifteen minute mark, Matt Horsley managed an effort at goal but his shot was once again saved by Kearton, and the general play was still being controlled by Brisbane.

The Glory defence was looking shaky at this point and a poor clearance by the Glory defence saw Trajanovski deliver a pinpoint pass to Grierson which was duly directed into the net for 0:2 to the visitors after twenty-one minutes

Another opportunity fell to new German recruit Andre Gumprecht after around 35 minutes, as he worked himself into some space just outside the penalty area, but his effort sailed well over the crossbar.

The Glory would go into the half-time break two nil down.

There was a bit more fire in the belly to be seen when Glory came out for the second half, and they seemed determined to make up for having underestimated the Strikers in the first half.

It took twelve minutes into the second half for the increased pressure to pay dividends, and when Gumprecht slotted a pass to Pryce from the right just outside the box and Pryce managed to square the ball into the area, all the Keeper could manage was a weak punch, which Hassell latched onto from a turn and volleyed into the net for Glory's first.

Glory were back in the match, but not for long, as in the sixty-eighth minute the effective combination of Anthony Roche and Fernando Rech resulted in a one-on-one with Petkovic and the score was 1:3.

Brisbane kept up the pressure and it was only a few minutes later when  an error in the Glory Midfield led to a run by Rech with another through pass to Roche which this time put Roche in a one-on-one with the keeper and the Glory were headed for an embarrassing defeat.1:4 after seventy-two minutes.

Shortly after, Bobby Despotovski made room for Nick Mrdja, and at the 76th minute mark both Hassell and Tarka made way for Faria and Garcia.

With the fresh legs Glory found the energy for another attack, and this time it was a Stephen Laybutt handball in the penalty area that gave Glory a lifeline to get back into the match, as Eddy Lennie pointed to  the spot.

Damian Mori made no mistake and the score after seventy-nine minutes was 2:4.

By this time the 10753 people at Perth Oval had found some voice and the  team came forward with a new found enthusiasm. Once again the pressure paid off when Nick Mrdja was brought down in the penalty area by  Kearton, the keeper earning himself a yellow card in the process.  The resultant spot-kick once again by Mori made it 3:4 after eighty-four minutes and the Glory had won back some respectability.

Four minutes extra time was played, but the Final Score remained 3:4 to the Brisbane Strikers.

Mich D'Avray afterwards was clearly disappointed by the result and  pointed out that one simply cannot concede 4 goals at home and expect to win. The defence will be getting some particular attention over the next week.

The one positive aspect of the game however was the teams ability to fight back to gain some respectability when all seemed lost.

MATCH STATS

1 Jason Petkovic (gk) , 2 Matthew Horsley  ,3 Jamie Harnwell  ,4 Bradley Hassell (-76')  ,6 Andre Gumprecht 7 Scott Miller ,10 Bobby Despotovski (-74')  ,15 Edgar Aldrighi Junior,16 Damian Mori  ,18 Shane Pryce  23 David Tarka (-77')

Subs: 9 Nick Mrdja (+74')  ,11 Michael Garcia (+77')  ,17 Gary Faria(+76') 20 Vince Matassa (gk)

Yellow Cards : None
Red Cards : None

1 Jason Kearton (gk) ,2 Richie Alagich ,3 Shane Stefanutto  ,4 Jon McKain  ,5 Stuart McLaren  ,6 Peter Grierson (-58')  7 Fernando Rech ,9 Stephen Laybutt  ,10 Kris Trajanovski  ,11 John  Carbone (-69'),12 David Pilic (-65')

Subs: 15 Matthew McKay (+69') ,19 Joshua Rose (+58')  ,21 Anthony Roche (+65')  ,20 Corey Baldock (gk)

Yellow Cards : S McLaren 55', A Roche 70', S Laybutt 79', J Kearton  84', F Rech 88'
Red Cards : None

Referee: Eddie Lennie
Assistants : P Mc Caffrey, S.Muldoon, 4th Official A Nardi

STRIKERS TAKE IT TO PERTH

On Sunday night a number of Strikers fans gathered around their computers and tuned in to the broadcast of the game from Perth.  Not so much in expecetation of a great game , but more the need to, at least hear, an away match.

How many of us were delighted when the Strikers took the pitch in a 4-3-3 formation, looking to attack?  And attack they did.  They started out as follows

Stuart McLaren, Jon McKain, Steve Laybut and Shane Steffanuto in the backline

Richie Alagich, David Pilic, and John Carbone in midfield.

Kris Trajanovski, Fernando Rech and Peter Grierson up front.

A Despotovski attack in the 5^th minute could have seen things go a different way, if the shot had not been admirably blocked by Jason Kearton in goals.  From there the Strikers, controlling their passes and holding the ball up well, pushed the ball forward.  Fernando was on fire, able to get in behind the defence and calmly slot home the first goal in the 9^th minute.

To score first in Perth and so early!  Supporters (or at least this one) were going mad in their homes, screaming as if in the midst of 10000 quiet Perth fans.  This was only to be the beginning of the pressure and tension of a great radio broadcast.

Horsley almost equalised 6 minutes later with a hard-hit shot, deflected with one hand by Kearton for a corner.  The game seemed to be one of end-to-end attacks and near misses for a while, until Traja crossed across goal to Grierson, who stabbed at the ball from close range. 2-0!!

Perth seemed to waste their opportunities with good passing moves that inevitably went wide past the post, or were shut down at the last moment.

So the Strikers went to the sheds at half time with 2 goals to their name and a clean sheet on the other.

Sitting in front of our computers, on the other side of the country, we knew that Perth would come out firing in the second half.  They attacked, but so did the Strikers.  Not content to sit on a 2-0 lead and try to shut the down, Kossie and the boys were still there to attack.

Pilic seemed to involved in some great work, using Stefanutto on the left hand side for an attacking move that almost gave Shane his second goal in the NSL.  However, the Glory turned it around again and in the 56^th minute a Pryce cross was parried away by Kearton, straight to Hassel who drilled the ball into the net. 2-1, and Perth seem to be back in the game.

Josh Rose was substituted for Peter Grierson, signalling Kossies resolve to keep attacking.  Some tough minutes go by for Strikers fans with some defensive mix-ups and a free kick to Glory just outside the 18 yard box.  Luckily none of these came to anything  In the 65^th minute Anthony Roche made his debut for the Strikers, when he come on for Pilic.  The radio commentators relayed that Fernando had spoken to Kossie about a change in positional setup and 3 minutes later, Rech again slipped passed the defence and beat the keeper.  3-1 to the Strikers!   

Matt McKay came on for Perth "old boy" Carbone in the 71st minute. With our defence being able to do the job required the midfielders were concentrating more on getting forward than being in the defensive third.

After being on the park for about 8 minutes, Roche showed why he was there when he slotted the ball past Petkovic for his NSL Goal on Debut!  4-1 to Strikers.

At this point imagine insane rounds of cheering and ringing people without access to the internet and getting all too excited with 17minute to go.

Another play through to the front line saw the ball go in the net for Roche, but to be disallowed for offside. Still it is 4-1 what could go wrong with 15 minutes to go?

On the 80^th minute Perth were awarded a penalty for what has been described as a dubious handball decision.  It would seem that the ball hit Laybutt’s hand, not the hand hitting out at the ball.  He was carded and Mori lined up for the shot.  Mori went left, Kearton went right.  4-2.  It’s still good, 10 minutes plus injury time remaining.

Perth were described in the broadcast as having Keystone cops defending on the night, as the Strikers attacked, yet again.  Unfortunately , Perth was then quickly on the counter, and running in fast, Kearton was adjudged by the referee to have taken Mrdja out as the substitute ran unmarked at goal.  This was looking dangerous.  The ref pointed to the spot, and we all held our breaths as the he went for a card.  Yellow!!  Mori converted the penalty to get Perth back in with 6 minutes and injury time to go.

After a couple of near misses and great defence by the Strikers in the last 10 minutes the ref blew the whistle to the relief of all those in Brisbane frozen to their chairs.

Final score 4-3.
Glory’s first loss since 25 April 2001.
First time Glory had conceded 4 goals or more in Perth since 1996.

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