Perth Glory have come back from two goals down to beat Adelaide United 3-2 in a pulsating mid-week fixture at Hindmarsh stadium in Adelaide.
Perth Glory have come back from two goals down to beat Adelaide United 3-2 in a pulsating mid-week fixture at Hindmarsh stadium in Adelaide.
Two goals from Jacob Burns, his first for the club, and Daniel McBreen-s winner with 13 minutes to play sealed the stunning win.
“Great character, great team performance and well deserved,” was Dave Mitchell-s reaction after the game.
The Glory are now four points clear in sixth spot but Mitchell does not think finals football is guaranteed.
“No, not safe at all, we-ve had two tough games on the road and now we have another one on Friday night against Wellington.
“It-s a tough trip back for us and Wellington will be waiting.”
Down 2-nil after 53 minutes, the game changed when Iain Fyfe was sent off in the 62nd minute for a foul on goal bound Mile Sterjovski.
Burns then curled in a magnificent free-kick from 20 meters to breathe fire into Perth.
Six minutes later it was two-all and it was Burns again.
This time the captain played a neat one-two with substitute Andrija Jukic before he slotted the ball home from 10 metres.
With Perth running riot and Jukic forcing Eugene Galekovic into three top class saves, the Glory finally got a deserved winner in the 77th minute.
The assist came from another sub, Branko Jelic, who laid on a beautiful pass to McBreen. Starting his first game for the Glory, McBreen took his chance expertly as he snuck the ball past Galekovic from a tight angle.
It was McBreen-s third goal against Adelaide this season, having scored two for his former club, North Queensland Fury.
“Yeah I said to the boys I-d like to play them (Adelaide) every week,” a beaming McBreen said.
Coach Dave Mitchell was also pleased with his new striker.
“I thought he was magnificent, he held the ball up, he doesn-t really know the players well but his performance was fantastic.”
Adelaide had taken the lead after 13 minutes when Lucas Pantelis scored from an incredible angle. The Reds forward was just in from the goal-line when he managed to get the ball over Tando Velaphi.
The home side was then gifted a second goal when a defensive mistake from Jamie Coyne allowed Travis Dodd to double the margin.
But with substitute Jukic forcing Adelaide onto the back foot with his direct play and long range shooting, Perth never stopped believing.
Mitchell used all three substitutes and his decision to attack at all costs proved to be a masterstroke.
Perth now plays their third game in six days when they host Wellington Phoenix on Friday night.
Hyundai A-League 2009/10 – Round 19
Adelaide United: 2 (Pantelis 13-, Dodd 53-)
Perth Glory: 3 (Burns 63-, 69-, McBreen 77)
Tuesday, 19 January 2010 at Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
Referee: Ben Williams
Assistant Referees: Paul Cetrangelo, Curtis Wordsworth
Fourth Official: Regis Queffelec
Perth Glory: 1.Tando VELAPHI (gk), 2.Danny McBREEN, 3.Jamie COYNE (23.Andrija JUKIC 59-), 4. Andy TODD, 6.Chris COYNE, 7.Jacob BURNS (c), 12.Scott NEVILLE (11.Branko JELIC 64-), 14.Steven McGARRY, 16.Adriano PELLEGRINO (13.Scott BULLOCH 52-), 17.Todd HOWARTH, 21.Mile STERJOVSKI,
Substitutes not used: 20.Aleks VRTESKI (gk),
Yellow cards: Neville, Pellegrino, Jelic
Red cards: Nil
Adelaide United: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 4.Iain FYFE, 5.Daniel MULLEN, 6.CASSIO (16.Inseob SHIN 45- (10.Adam HUGHES 76-)), 7.Lucas PANTELIS, 11.Lloyd OWUSU, 13.Travis DODD (c), 17.Michael MARRONE, 18.Fabian BARBIERO (9.CRISTIANO 87-), 19.Mathew LECKIE, 21.Mark RUDAN
Substitutes not used: 20 Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk)
Yellow cards: Rudan, Pantelis
Red cards: Fyfe 62-, Pantelis 95-
