Perth Glory has missed the chance to climb on top of the National Youth League ladder as a late winner from Central Coast’s Bernie Ibini-Isei saw the Mariners claim a thrilling 3-2 win on Saturday afternoon.
Perth Glory has missed the chance to climb on top of the National Youth League ladder as a late winner from Central Coast’s Bernie Ibini-Isei saw the Mariners claim a thrilling 3-2 win on Saturday afternoon.
Playing with the aid of a gusty breeze in the first half, the Glory opened the scoring in the eighth minute through regular seniors’ striker Branko Jelic before Mariners’ skipper Panny Nikas saw his 22nd-minute penalty saved.
But if goals were in short supply during the first period, a healthy crowd at Perth’s Clipsal Stadium were in for a treat after the break as both teams traded blows, with Dylan Macallister equalising in the 57th minute only for the Glory to re-take the lead seconds later through Dean Evans.
But as the shadows lengthened on a warm afternoon, Nikas made up for his spot kick miss when he fired home in the 77th minute before the impressive Ibini-Isei sealed the result with a classy half-volley five minutes from time.
The result sees Central Coast consolidate its position atop the National Youth League table, the Mariners climbing five points ahead of second-placed Adelaide United and third-placed Perth.
Despite missing an opportunity to give his side the lead in the sixth minute, Jelic made up for the miss two minutes later as he took advantage of a fumble from Mariners’ stopper Matthew Ryan to slot the ball into an empty net.
With senior Glory players Jelic and Wayne Srhoj using this game to return from injury, Perth controlled play during the opening stages before Central Coast was given a chance to level when Brady Smith was brought down by a clumsy Sam Mitchinson tackle in the box.
Nikas, though, failed to convert his chance as Alex Pearson guessed correctly and pushed it around the post.
Despite Srhoj and Jelic only playing for 32 minutes, a re-jigged Perth side almost took advantage of the penalty miss to double the lead in the half’s latter stages as Hayden Doyle crashed a sensational 25-metre strike narrowly over the bar.
Mariners’ coach Tony Walmsley changed his side’s shape at half-time, switching Ibini-Isei from the right flank to the left with good effect as the visitors took control of the game.
In the 56th minute Nikas saw a glancing header slide narrowly over the bar before the Glory’s defence failed to clear two minutes later as a low ball from Jonathan Brown found an unmarked Macallister, who converted from close range.
The Mariners had barely finished celebrating when a mis-timed clearance of their own fell perfectly for midfielder Evans to crash home from 20-metres out as Perth instantly responded.
In an end-to-end affair, both sides kept pushing forward but it was the Mariners who levelled once again with 13 minutes remaining when a crafty flick from Ibeni-Isei released Shane Huke down the left, the defender’s cross slammed home by Nikas.
Two minutes later Glory ‘keeper Pearson did well to deny the Mariners with his feet as a Nikas corner produced a goalmouth scramble, but Perth looked to have regained the lead with six minutes to go.
A Doyle cross from the right was converted by bustling midfielder Glen Trefiro only to be ruled marginally offside, with the Mariners taking full advantage of the let-off to take the lead themselves a minute later as defender Smith produced a sizzling run down the right.
Taking on the defender, Smith crossed to Ibini-Isei at the near post, who half-volleyed it home to give Central Coast the points this time around, ensuring the Glory will have extra motivation if the two sides meet in the upcoming finals.
National Youth League – Rd 22
Perth Glory 2 (Jelic 8′, Evans 58′)
Central Coast Mariners 3 (Macallister 57′, Nikas 77′, Ibini-Isei 85′)
Saturday, 30 January 2010 at Clipsal Stadium, Perth
Referee: Matthew Cheeseman
Perth Glory: 7. Cameron EDWARDS, 6. Dean EVANS, 3. Steve HESKETH, 4. Sam MITCHINSON, 1. Alex PEARSON (gk), 2. Ryan PEARSON, 5. Joshua RISDON (11. Howard FONDYKE 59′), 10. Glen TRIFIRO, 14. Branko JELIC (9. Mario MARCINKO 32′), 15. Wayne SRHOJ (8. David PRICE 32′)
Substitutes not used: 20.Tim DOYLE (gk),
Yellow Cards: Howard Fondyke 90+3′
Red Cards: nil
Central Coast Mariners: 1. Matthew RYAN (GK), 12. Shane HUKE (OA), 17. Jonathan BROWN (OA), 10. Panny NIKAS (C), 6. Matthew LEWIS (7. Brendan GRIFFIN 63′), 4. Matthew LIDDALL (15. Adam ORMSBY 60′), 2. Nathan SHERLOCK, 14. Brady SMITH, 8. Nick FITZGERALD, 18. Bernie IBINI-ISEI, 17. Jonathan BROWN (9. Gavin FORBES 63′), 19. Dylan MACALLISTER
Substitutes not used: 20. Nikodin MATIC (GK),
Yellow Cards:
Red Cards: nil
