Second-half goals from Ivan Franjic, Neil Kilkenny and James Meredith eased Glory to an impressive 3-1 win over Western Sydney Wanderers in Tuesday evening’s clash at Bankwest Stadium.
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After a goalless first half, Franjic marked his 50th A-League appearance for Glory by sweeping home the opener and although Mitch Duke restored parity within two minutes for the hosts, the visitors pulled away in the final quarter.
Skipper Kilkenny made it 2-1, converting from the spot after Ryan McGowan had handled Jake Brimmer’s low cross and Meredith made the points safe four minutes from time when he crashed home from just outside the box.
The victory, their third over the red-and-blacks this season, lifts Tony Popovic’s side to within one point of fourth-placed Brisbane Roar and means that a a top-six finish is all but secured.
And Head Coach Tony Popovic was understandably full of praise for his players.
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“I thought it was an outstanding performance after the result against Adelaide,” he said.
“The players showed all the confidence and belief today that we knew they had in them and it was a well-deserved win.
“At half-time we told the players to keep believing, that more chances would come and I thought once they [Wanderers] equalised, with a crowd behind them, that was our true test.
“That we stood up and too control of the game shows again where the players are at.
“It was a big game in terms of the context of where everyone’s at and they stood up.
“I’m delighted for the players. Our senior players led well and our young players are doing a tremendous job.”
In a tense and evenly-balanced first half, it was Glory who came closest to breaking the deadlock when Kristian Popovic picked out Bruno Fornaroli whose bicycle kick struck the foot of the post and rebounded away to safety.
But the game really exploded into life just after the hour-mark, Franjic staying alert to latch on to the loose ball after Brimmer’s initial effort had been blocked and then beating Tristan Prendergast to claim his fourth goal for the club.
Glory’s lead was to prove short-lived as Wanderers hit back almost immediately, Daniel Georgievski providing the assist for Duke who calmly slotted home his 12th goal of the campaign.
That setback failed to derail the men in white, however and they deservedly restored their lead with 12 minutes left.
The lively Brimmer drilled a low cross into the box which McGowan handled after losing his footing and Kilkenny duly converted what was his eighth consecutive successful spot-kick for the club.
Having got their noses in front, Glory never looked back and wrapped up their fifth away win of the campaign courtesy of substitute Meredith who met Brimmer’s cross with an emphatic finish that gave Prendergast no chance whatsoever.
Match Details
Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (Duke 63′) Perth Glory 3 (Franjic 61′, Kilkenny (pen) 78′, Meredith 86′)
Half-time: 0-0
Bankwest Stadium, Parramatta
Referee: Kurt Ams
Assistant Referee 1: Kearney Robinson
Assistant Referee 2: Brad Wright
Fourth Official: Katie Patterson
Western Sydney Wanderers FC: 50.Tristan PRENDERGAST (gk), 4.Dylan McGOWAN, 5.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI (11.Bruce KAMAU 68′), 6.Matthew JURMAN, 7.Mitchell DUKE (c), 8.Jordan O’DOHERTY (19.Pirmin SCHWEGLER 46′), 10.Simon COX (35.Mo ADAM 82′), 17.Keanu BACCUS, 27.Kwame YEBOAH, 33.Tate RUSSELL, 34.Patrick ZIEGLER (13.Tass MOURDOUKOUTAS 68′)
Substitutes not used: 22.Nicholas SULLIVAN, 23.Kosta GROZOS, 40.Nicholas SUMAN (gk)
Yellow Cards: Ziegler, McGowan, Cox
Red cards: None
Perth Glory: 33.Liam REDDY (gk), 2.Alex GRANT, 5.Ivan FRANJIC (21.Tarek ELRICH 62′), 9.Bruno FORNAROLI, 13.Osama MALIK (8.James MEREDITH 70′), 16.Tomislav MRCELA, 18.Nick D’AGOSTINO (28.Gabriel POPOVIC 89′), 23.Dane INGHAM, 27.JUANDE, 29.Kristian POPOVIC (20.Jake BRIMMER 46′), 88.Neil KILKENNY (C)
Substitutes not used: 22.Vince LIA, 25.Carlo ARMIENTO, 50.Daniel MARGUSH (gk)
Yellow Cards: Juande
Red Cards: None
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