Perth Glory have notched a deserved 4-2 win over Adelaide United in Perth tonight. In one of the games of the season, the Glory led twice as the Reds hit back before the home side scored two goals without answer to grab just their second win in their past 17 games to climb off the bottom of the table.
Glory defender Jamie Coyne netted first before Joe Keenan leveled with a volley but Mile Sterjovski made it 2-1 when he slotted home just after the half-hour mark.
Reds striker Sergio van Dijk made it 2-2 after the break before Robbie Fowler grabbed a double, including a penalty that saw Robert Cornthwaite sent off, to ensure the Glory put all three points in the bank.
A-League Week 19 - midweekPerth Glory: 4 (Jamie Coyne 6', Mile Sterjovski 35', Robbie Fowler 67'/(p) 77') Adelaide United: 2 (Joe Keenan 22', Sergio van Dijk 51') Venue: nib Stadium, Perth Crowd: 7,193 Referee: Chris Beath Yellow cards:PG - Naum Sekulovski 37', Steve McGarry 55', Mile Sterjovski 57' AU - Iain Fyfe 44' Red card:AU - Robert Cornthwaite 75'
GOAL The Glory got the tonic they needed in just the sixth minute when Mile Sterjovski sent a cross into the area where defender Jamie Coyne lost his marker and powered a low header home to get things under way.
Just under five minutes later, Sterjovski almost made it 2-0 when his shot went across the face of goal before Adriano Pellegrino got free in the area but his header from a Steve McGarry free-kick edged slightly wide of the post as the home side made their intentions clear.
Adelaide lost Paul Reid early to injury but his substitute Joe Keenan made a immediate impact in the 22nd minute of the match. GOAL Iain Ramsay made a positive run down the left before crossing into a dangerous position and Keenan was the recipient of a deflected header, side-footing home from outside the six-yard box to restore parity.
Both sides were up and about in what was a very lively affair which almost saw the Reds take a lead when Adam Hughes' header was cleared off the line just after the half-hour mark.
GOAL But it was the Glory who hit the front when Josh Mitchell played a long, defence-splitting ball to Sterjovski who nodded it out in front of him before rounding advancing Reds keeper Eugene Galekovic and slotting home with his left foot from the edge of the area despite Cassio's best efforts to clear.
GOAL Six minutes into the second half the Reds again equalised when Marcos Flores made a jinking run through midfield before teeing up Travis Dodd, the ball deflecting off his foot into the path of Sergio van Dijk. The Dutchman lashed home with his left foot into the top left corner for his 10th of the season to make it 2-2.
Tempers were frayed soon after when Glory skipper Jacob Burns appeared to pass back to Tando Velaphi but referee Chris Beath let it go before Sterjovski kicked out at Iain Fyfe down the other end of the pitch, causing players from both sides to clash as the Glory striker was handed a caution.
Adelaide were determined to take the lead and came close when Cassio tried his luck from long range in the 65th minute as the game really began to heat up with plenty of attacking football being played in warm conditions.
GOAL But two minutes later, the Glory went 3-2 up when Pellegrino played a pinpoint ball from the defensive half into the path of Fowler who took one touch before deploying it into the bottom corner much to the delight of the nib Stadium crowd.
A 72nd minute Scott Neville shot rasped the gloves of Galekovic before Ramsay scuffed a great chance down the other end when he rounded Velaphi but put his shot high over the crossbar and then the match took another twist when Reds defender Robert Cornthwaite was sent off.
His challenge on Sterjovski in the area was too forceful and prompted referee Beath to show him a red card, reducing the Reds to ten men. GOAL Fowler stepped up to the spot and sent Galekovic the wrong way to make it 4-2 in the 77th minute.
Adelaide skipper Travis Dodd went agonisingly close in what would have been an immediate response before the game fizzled out in the last ten or so minutes.
Ian Ferguson described this as a 'Cup Final' earlier this week and he would be glad his Glory players came through with the goods to get off the bottom of the table.
Starting Line-Ups
PG Tando Velaphi (gk), Josh Mitchell, Jamie Coyne, Jamie Harnwell, Jacob Burns, Robbie Fowler, Scott Neville, Steve McGarry, Adriano Pellegrino, Naum Sekulovski, Mile Sterjovski (Skorich 90+1')
Subs - Alex Pearson (gk), Anthony Skorich (90+1'), Howard Fondyke, Todd Howarth,
AUEugene Galekovic (gk), Robert Cornthwaite, Iain Fyfe (Boogaard 72'), Cassio, Adam Hughes, Sergio van Dijk, Marcos Flores, Paul Reid (Keenan 12'), Travis Dodd, Fabian Barbiero, Iain Ramsay (Pantelis 81')
Subs - Mark Birighitti (gk), Joe Keenan (12'), Nigel Boogaard (72'), Lucas Pantelis (81')
