Meyer strike wins it for Roar in Perth

Brisbane Roar kept their finals hopes alive by picking up three points in the latest Grand Final rematch against Perth Glory who were left to rue a number of missed chances. 

Thomas Broich. Credit: Brisbane Roar

A first half strike from James Meyer was enough to give Mike Mulvey’s side a 1-0 win in front of 4,821 spectators, Glory’s lowest A-League crowd since 4,433 attended the Round 5 game against Wellington Phoenix in 2008.

Both sides were forced to make changes due to injury and suspension meaning the game was missing household names such as Shane Smeltz, Liam Miller, Jacob Burns, Bas Van Den Brink, Dean Heffernan and Besart Berisha.

Despite Roar enjoying the majority of possession early on, it was the hosts who carved out the first chance inside ten minutes when a cross from Scott Jamieson found Travis Dodd but he shot wide of the target from a great position.

On 15 minutes a Steve McGarry corner found its way to Steve Pantelidis but his tame effort went straight at Michael Theo, and just seconds later Glory, Glory were punished by the visitors.

James Meyer picked up the ball 30 yards from goal and his left foot shot found the bottom corner, though goalkeeper Danny Vukovic will be disappointed with his effort to keep the ball out.

Chances were few and far between for the rest of the half with Michael Thwaite heading over for Glory while at the other end Vukovic saved comfortably from Roar’s Mitch Nichols.

As expected, the hosts came out lively in the second half and on 56 minutes they almost claimed an equaliser after Theo decided to go walkabout.

The keeper was left in no man’s land 35 yards from his goal after needlessly trying to follow up a headed clearance but Glory failed to capitalise as Nick Ward shot over the bar with only a defender to beat on the line.

As expected, the hosts came out lively in the second half and on 56 minutes they almost claimed an equaliser after Theo decided to go walkabout.

The keeper was left in no man’s land 35 yards from his goal after needlessly trying to follow up a headed clearance but Glory failed to capitalise as Nick Ward shot over the bar with only a defender to beat on the line.

Vukovic comfortably turned a Luke Bratten free kick over the crossbar on 73 minutes before Theo beat out a fiercely struck shot from substitute Storm Roux after a neat knockdown by Dodd.

With five minutes to go, a great driven Dodd cross found Ward but somehow his shot was deflected over by a combination of goalkeeper and defender, before a header from the subsequent corner was cleared off the line.

Roar will be happy to have kept a clean sheet to go with the win but for Glory it's another opportunity missed in what has been a very poor run of form.

Perth Glory: 1. Daniel Vukovic, 2. Jack Clisby, 5. Steve Pantelidis, 6. Nick Ward, 11. Adrian Zahra, 12. Ryo Nagai, 13. Travis Dodd, 14. Steven McGarry, 17. Chris Harold 21. Scott Jamieson, 23. Michael Thwaite.

Subs: 15. Brandon O'Neill, 22. Ndumbu Makeche, 24. Storm Roux, 30, Lewis Italiano.

Brisbane Roar: 1. Michael Theo, 4. Matthew Jurman, 5. Ivan Franjic, 8. Massimo Murdocca, 11. Ben Halloran, 15. James Donachie, 17. Mitch Nichols, 18. Luke Brattan, 21. James Meyer, 22. Thomas Broich, 26. Corey Brown.

Subs: 12. Julius Doe, 14. Steven Lustica, 19. Jack Hingert, 20. Acton.