Glory claimed their first win of the Hyundai A-League season on Sunday, coming from behind to down Central Coast Mariners 2-1 in front of 12,167 fans at nib Stadium.
Adam Taggart continued his impressive goalscoring form as he coolly slotted home the winner with just under five minutes remaining after skipper Andy Keogh had cancelled out Wout Brama’s early opener for the visitors.
The dramatic victory was Glory’s first over the Gosford side in four attempts and came after the visitors had shaded the opening quarter.
The hosts gradually grew into the game, however and Head Coach Kenny Lowe later praised the resilience his charges showed to make light of the warm conditions and finish strongly for a third week in a row.
The action started very early as Asdrubal had a golden chance to fire the Mariners into an opening-minute-lead following Kwabena Appiah’s searing run in behind the defence, but the Spaniard was unable to convert from six yards after slipping at the crucial moment.
Central Coast continued their bright start, however and were eventually rewarded when Dutchman Brama curled home from just inside the area following Connor Pain’s cutback.
Following a disjointed opening, Glory began to force the pace, with Andreu dictating the tempo from deep in midfield in his home debut and the chances soon began to come thick and fast for the home side.
Taggart went agonisingly close to equalising from close range with 34 minutes played, the striker’s shot from Keogh’s cross drifting just wide of the mark. Keogh and Lowry then had great opportunities late in the half, with the latter’s powerful header from Diego Castro’s pinpoint corner just evading Taggart’s effort to nudge it home.
Glory pressed similarly hard for an equaliser early in the second stanza, with Chris Harold’s strike fizzing narrowly wide after 52 minutes as the Mariners’ defence began to creak.
Lowe then threw Young Socceroos duo Jake Brimmer and Brandon Wilson into the fray just after the hour-mark and their extra energy helped revitalise the hosts who duly restored parity five minutes later when Keogh opened his account for the season by nodding home Taggart’s superb cross.
After a flurry of chances and outright dominance of possession in the latter stages, Glory’s persistence finally paid off in the 86th minute, with Taggart converting a superb, lofted through ball from Shane Lowry.
The striker showed great composure to size up the one-on-chance and bury the ball home over the onrushing Thomas Glover to secure the three points.
The result sees Glory remain in sixth spot on the early-season ladder, with a semi-final rematch with Sydney FC to come next week at Allianz Stadium.
#CREATEDESTINY
Match Details
Sunday, 22nd October 2017
Perth Glory 2 (KEOGH 70′, TAGGART 85′) Central Coast Mariners 1 (BRAMA 14′)
Half-Time: 0-1
Attendance: 12,167
Referee: Alex King
Assistant Referee 1: Josh Mannella
Assistant Referee 2: Arvin Shanmuganathan
Fourth Official: Adam Fielding
Video Assistant Referee: Chris Beath
Perth Glory Squad: 33. Liam REDDY (GK), 4. Shane LOWRY, 8. Xavi TORRES, 9. Andy KEOGH (C), 14. Chris HAROLD (19. Joe KNOWLES 81′), 16. Joseph MILLS (20. Jake BRIMMER 66′), 17. Diego CASTRO, 18. Andreu GUERAO (15. Brandon WILSON 66′), 22. Adam TAGGART, 23. Scott NEVILLE, 29. Jeremy WALKER
Substitutes not used: 13. Nick FEELY (GK), 5. Jacob POSCOLIERO
Yellow cards: NEVILLE 44′
Red cards: None.
Central Coast Mariners Squad: 18. Thomas GLOVER (GK), 2. Storm ROUX, 3. Josh ROSE (16. Liam ROSE 87′), 5. Antony GOLEC, 6. Tom HIARIEJ, 9. ASDRUBAL (17. Josh BINGHAM 69′), 10. Daniel DE SILVA, 11. Connor PAIN, 13. Kwabena APPIAH-KUBI (12. Trent BUHAGIAR 66′), 15. Alan BARO (C), 23. Wout BRAMA
Substitutes not used: 1. Ben KENNEDY (GK), 4. Jake McGING
Yellow cards: BARO 36′, 9. ASDRUBAL 56′
Red cards: None.
