A-League Review: Perth win battle at the top

Simon Wilderspin looks at the latest action from the A-League which saw Perth Glory return to winning ways and inflict a first defeat of the season on Sydney FC.

Sydney FC 1-2 Perth Glory

Perth Glory took a huge step towards the Hyundai A-League title by inflicting a first defeat of the season on rivals Sydney FC.

Glory had to do it the hard way after Sky Blues striker Shane Smeltz converted a controversial penalty past his former employees just 12 minutes into the second half.

Glory were infuriated that the penalty had been given, after Smeltz’s goal bound effort had struck the arm of Dino Djulbic from only a few yards away.

But Glory hit back late and equalised when Nebojsa Marinkovic’s pin-point free-kick left the home side defence standing and found Rostyn Griffiths who headed past a stranded Vedran Janjetoviic.

Just when the game seemed to be heading for a draw Glory snatched all three points when they were awarded a penalty of their own.

A marauding run from left-back Scott Jamieson culminated in him being brought down by substitute Chris Naumoff, with Andy Keogh slotting home the resulting penalty, just three minutes from time.

Central Coast Mariners 0-3 Melbourne Victory

Victory move up to second in the A-League ladder after a convincing win at the North Sydney Oval.

The Mariners decision to shift their home games to the Oval did not pay off after only 7,000 fans saw them put in a poor performance.

Three goals in 11 second half-minutes caused the damage as Victory recorded their first win on the road this season.

Besart Berisha got the ball rolling just past the hour mark when Archie Thompson eloquently set up him through on goal before finishing low across keeper Liam Reddy into the far corner.

Daniel Georgievski doubled the visitors lead when he opened his account for the season in style.

After robbing Nick Montgomery 30-yards from goal, the Macedonian took the ball on before curling a sublime shot into the top corner.

Substitute Connor Pain then made the game safe when he tapped in at the far post following an excellent delivery from Kosta Barbarouses to heap more misery on the Mariners.

Adelaide United 2-0 Western Sydney Wanderers

Adelaide kept pace with the top two after a convincing win at Coopers Stadium against winless Wanderers.

The Reds completely dominated proceedings following Nikolai Topor-Stanley’s red car after just 18 minutes for picking up two bookings.

Adelaide grab the lead in the first-half when Marcelo Carrusca got on the end of Sergio Cirio’ centre to delicately put the home side in front.

Ten minutes after the re-start the game was over for the Wanderers when Carrusca turned provider for Fabio Ferreira who, despite being surrounded by three Wanderers players, bundled his way through before crashing the ball into the top corner.

Western Sydney’s A-League season has been a nightmare but for now they will need to regroup and focus on Club World Cup duties, when they tackle Mexican powerhouse Cruz Azul in seven days’ time.

Melbourne City 1-0 Brisbane Roar

City overtook opponents Brisbane afte they recorded a much-needed victory that has relieved some of the pressure off under-fire coach John van’t Schip.

The home side had only managed one A-League victory this season and that was at the home of their visitors in Round 5.

It was a first defeat for new Brisbane coach Frans Thijssen who had previously picked up one win and a draw in his first two games in charge.

The game was decided by a 49th minute penalty, tucked away coolly by Aaron Mooy after Mate Dugandzic was pulled down by Roar’s Daniel Bowles.

The victory for Melbourne did come at a cost with winger Damien Duff being ruled out unitl the New Year with an ankle injury.

Newcastle Jets 1-3 Wellington Phoenix

Newcastle Jets remain without a win the Hyundai A-League after going down at home in form Phoenix at Hunter Stadium.

Three goals in five second-half minutes did the damage with Nathan Burns, Michael McGlinchey and Roy Krishna amongst the goal scorers.

The home side did took a first-half lead when Joel Griffiths converted from point-blank range after Andrew Hoole had volleyed David Carney’s centre across the goal line.

But with the pressure mounting, The Jets crumbled and Burns got the away side level with 17 minutes remaining.

Burns was played through on goal by a delightful defence splitting pass from Roly Bonevacia before rounding the keeper and passing the ball into an empty net.

Within minutes, The Jets were behind when keeper Ben Kennedy could only palm Bonevacia’s stinging shot onto the post, with McGlinchey tapping into an empty net, despite being marginally offside.

The away side smelt blood and to cap of a crazy six minutes, Krishna scored the goal of the game.

After picking up the ball from the half-way line, the Fijian strode forward before unleashing an unstoppable shot from just outside the area.