Diego Castro claimed his 49th A-League goal from the penalty spot as Glory edged closer to a Finals berth with a 1-1 draw against Macarthur FC at HBF Park.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268486001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6255646395001
On a wild, rainswept evening in Perth, the Spaniard fired home from the spot after Andy Keogh had been fouled by Mark Milligan, but on the half-hour, the Bulls hit back through leading goalscorer Matt Derbyshire.
Glory proceeded to strike the woodwork twice through Bruno Fornaroli and Carlo Armiento and were thus denied the win that would have moved them level on points with sixth-placed Brisbane Roar.
Nonetheless, Head Coach Richard Garcia was pleased by the effort put in by his side during what was the club’s seventh home game in the space of just 23 days.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268486001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6255652963001
“It’s a very good point,” he said.
“The boys have done tremendously well to play the seven games in 23 days and within those seven games pick up four wins, two draws and only one loss.
“That’s fantastic form and a fantastic effort in such a short period of time.
“I’m very, very happy that they have managed to get through that in the manner they have.
“It shows the courage and the mentality of the side.
“We’ve got momentum and a week to have a rest.
“It’s still a huge challenge; we’ve got 12500 km to travel and three games to play in a week, but looking in that dressing room, there’s a bunch of guys who are up for that challenge.”
Searching for a first win over the Bulls in three attempts, Glory made the perfect start when, with only 12 minutes on the clock, Milligan went through the back of Keogh just inside the box and Castro calmly found the net from the spot.
The lively start continued as Liam Reddy sensibly took a safety-first option in palming Denis Genreau’s free-kick over the bar, but there was nothing the home ‘keeper could do to prevent Ante Milicic’s side from restoring parity ten minutes later.
Moudi Najjar picked out James Meredith’s surging run into the box and the former Glory man’s subsequent low cross was forced home by the lurking Derbyshire from point-blank range.
The woodwork then prevented the hosts from restoring their lead shortly before the break, Fornaroli’s superb free-kick beating Adam Federici’s despairing dive only to cannon off the post, while the first action of the second half saw Reddy claw away a curling effort from Loic Puyo at the other end.
Federici duly responded with a similarly impressive save to keep out a fierce, angled strike from Chris Ikonomidis after he had linked up neatly with Jason Geria and Castro also went close to making it 2-1, flicking the ball narrowly over the bar having been teed up by substitute Nick D’Agostino.
It was Armiento who ultimately went closest to deciding a hard-fought encounter in the home side’s favour, but his rasping, 90th-minute effort from outside the box thundered against the bar.
With neither side willing to settle for a point, there was still time for one more chance, this time at the other end where Reddy got down smartly to deny Aleksandar Susnjar from finding the net in a frantic goalmouth scramble.
Match Details
Perth Glory 1 (Castro (pen) 13′) Macarthur FC 1 (Derbyshire 30′)
Half-time: 1-1
HBF Park, Perth
Referee: Ben Abraham
Perth Glory: 33.Liam REDDY (gk), 2.Jason GERIA, 5.Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS, 6.Osama MALIK (13.Luke BODNAR 76′), 7.Chris IKONOMIDIS (20.Carlo ARMIENTO 82′), 8.Kosuke OTA, 9.Bruno FORNAROLI (11.Joel CHIANESE 76′), 10.Andy KEOGH (18.Nick D’AGOSTINO 81′), 17.Diego CASTRO, 19.Callum TIMMINS, 29.Darryl LACHMAN
Substitutes not used: 1.Tando VELAPHI (gk), 15.Brandon WILSON, 23.Dane INGHAM
Yellow Cards: Malik, D’Agostino
Red Cards: None
Macarthur FC: 1.Adam FEDERICI (gk), 5.Mark MILLIGAN (c), 8.Denis GENREAU, 10.Loic PUYO (29.Antonis MARTIS 84′), 12.James MEREDITH (3.Antony GOLEC 77′), 14.Moudi NAJJAR, 15.Aleksandar SUSNJAR, 22.Liam ROSE (7.Ivan FRANJIC 76′), 24.Charles M’MOMBWA (19.Michael RUHS 31′), 27.Matt DERBYSHIRE, 33.Markel SUSAETA
Substitutes not used: 16.Nick SUMAN (gk), 17.Kyle CIMENTI, 23.Walter SCOTT
Yellow Cards: Puyo, Rose
Red Cards: None
#OneGlory
