Perth Glory spot on in win over Gold Coast

A pair of penalties were enough for Perth Glory to record a comfortable three points and a 2-0 win over Gold Coast United on a very warm night on the west coast.

With the temperature still hovering in the early 30s at kick off, Glory played the conditions better and claimed a win thanks to goals from Mile Sterjovski and Shane Smeltz, who was playing against his former side. United weren’t helped by the second half dismissal of 20 year old defender Zachary Anderson for two yellow cards.

Glory came out of the blocks quickly and could have taken the lead inside the opening few minutes but Kiwi striker Shane Smeltz lacked conviction with his header on goal.

Billy Mehmet had the next chance for Glory after neat work down the left from Todd Howarth. The full back’s cross found Mehmet on the edge of the area but his curling shot went just wide of Glen Moss’ goal.

Glory did finally take the lead on 20 minutes when they were awarded a penalty for an inexcusable handball in the area by Anderson. There was no doubting referee Strebre Delovski’s decision following the centre back’s best volleyball impression and Mile Sterjovski stepped up to calmly roll the spot kick past Moss.

It was Sterjovski’s first goal of the season on his return to the team having missed the Brisbane Roar game last week due to the birth of his new daughter.

Gold Coast finally registered a chance of their own by Jonas Salley could only head over when free in the area.

There were very few chances created after that with the home side failing to turn their pressure into further goals while at the other end James Brown struck a volley well wide from outside the box.

The visitors brought on Dutchman Maceo Rigters at half time to try and inject some life into their forward line. They came close to an equaliser after 50 minutes when Brown hit a well struck shot but Danny Vukovic got down well to save.

Just minutes later Glory were awarded their second penalty when Andrezinho went down rather easily under the challenge of Ben Halloran. Despite Sterjovski’s eagerness to score his second, Smeltz grabbed the ball and placed it on the spot before cheekily dinking the ball down the middle as Moss dived to his right.

Things got worse for United when Zachary Anderson shown a second yellow card just after the hour for a needless foul on Andrezinho and from then on the result was never in doubt.

Billy Mehmet came within inches of adding a third when he rose highest to meet Liam Miller’s free kick into the area but the header was just wide.

Substitute Adam Taggart had a goal ruled out on 86 minutes after he pounced on a Liam Miller shot that was only parried by Moss and that was the last of the significant action.

Overall Glory were good value for the win and the five travelling Gold Coast supporters amongst the 6,484 crowd will have been disappointed with their side’s poor showing.

Perth Glory: 1 Danny VUKOVIC, 2. Josh MITCHELL, 3. Sebastien VAN DEN BRINK, 4. Billy MEHMET, 7. Jacob BURNS, 9. Shane SMELTZ, 10. Liam MILLER, 17. Todd HOWARTH, 21. Mile STERJOVSKI, 25. Trent MCCLENAHAN, 27. ANDREZINHO.

Subs: 30. Lewis ITALIANO, 8. Adam HUGHES, 14. Steven MCGARRY, 22. Adam TAGGART.

Gold Coast United: 1. Glen MOSS, 3. Michael THWAITHE, 4. Zachary ANDERSON, 5. Kristian REES, 7. Golgol MEBRAHTU, 12. Dylan MCALLISTER, 14. Ben HALLORAN, 15. Adama TRAORE, 18. James BROWN, 23. Dylan MCGOWAN, 24. Jonas SALLEY.

Subs: 20. Jerrad TYSON, 16. Maceo RIGTERS, 27. Ambesager YOSIEF, 29. Mitch BEVAN.

Votes:

3 - Liam Miller

2 - Andrezinho

1 - Josh Mitchell