Irish international striker Andy Keogh has emerged as Perth Glory’s hero after scoring a perfect hat-trick in a fiery and spirited 3-2 win over glamour club Melbourne City FC, sending the Western Australians to the top of the Hyundai A-League for at least the next 48-hours.
Keogh drew first blood in only the seventh minute of the match, after a well worked free-kick engineered by Nebo Marinkovic and Chris Harold who cut it back to Keogh to finish in front of goal.
On the stroke of half-time City equalised after being awarded a dubious penalty which saw last year’s golden boot winner Bruno Fornaroli score from the spot kick and send tempers flaring in both camps.
The second half-picked up from where the first left. Glory scored its second with a smart header by Keogh after towering defender Dino Djulbic steered the ball towards the Irishman’s path inside the box.
WIth half-an hour togo, City was then gifted another equaliser after Glory turned the ball over in midfield.
However six minutes from time, Keogh stepped up again, capitalising on a weak clearance from City defender Josh Rose and lobbed the ball past City ‘keeper Dean Bouzanis to seal Glory’s third and his stunning hat-trick.
Glory returns to Perth on Saturday, and remains undefeated in its opening three matches.
The team will now turn its attention to Suncorp Stadium to face another tough match on the road against Brisbane Roar next week.
What they said: Andy Keogh (Man of the Match)
“It’s a nice feeling. The main thing is the win. The lads dug in against a great team and it’s nice to score some goals”.
Key moments-First Half
5’ Corner for Perth. Griffiths heads the ball into the back of the net but the ball is adjudged to have gone out from the corner kick.
7’ GOAL. A well worked free kick sees Marinkovic deliver the ball wide to Harold who cuts it back to Keogh in front of goal who taps it home on the half-volley
16’ Risdon latches onto a loose header which flashes past the near post
23’ Bruno Fornaroli cuts down Harold on the way to goal.
25’ Marinkovic is put through but his near post shot is pushed away by Bouzanis
32’ Some nice link up play between Warren and Griffiths puts Castro though but he’s just offside
37’ Keogh is ruled off-side after receiving a long range pass from Griffiths with a chance to double the team’s lead
39’ City shoot on goal but doesn’t test Reddy
43’ Penalty to City. Djulbic fouls Fornaroli in the box. The Uruguayan levels the score.
45’ Keogh has a half-chance to put Glory in front but Bouzanis is quick-off his line to smother
Key moments-Second Half
48’ Keogh has a shot across goal but it’s saved by Bouzanis
49’ GOAL. Corner for Perth. Djulbic heads towards goal. Djulbic follows up with another header, which falls towards Keogh in front of goal and header home leaving Bouzanis no chance to block the header
60’ GOAL. Glory cough up the ball in midfield and Brandan slots City’s second
64’ Brandan glides his shot just over the cross bar
68’ Castro shoots on goal, but the curling shot just glides past the front of goal
71’ Fornaroli turns Djulbic inside the box and his strike ricochets off Grant and onto the post.
80’ Joel Chianese shoots on goal inside the box but it’s blocked by a City defender
84’ Josh Rose bungles a clearance. Keogh pounces on the loose ball and lobs Bouzanis to register his third goal and seal his hat-trick.
Melbourne City FC 2 (Fornaroli 44’ Brandan 60’)
Perth Glory FC 3 (Keogh 7’ 49’ 85’)
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Melbourne City FC
20. Dean BOUZANIS (GK), 2. Manny MUSCAT, 3.Josh ROSE, 8 . Neil KILKENNY, 10. Anthony CACERES (14. Daniel ARZANI 78’), 11. Bruce KAMAU (12. Nick FITGERALD 36’), 17. Tim CAHILL (6. Osama MALIK 72’) 22. Michael JAKOBSEN, 23. Bruno FORNAROLI (C), 26. Luke BRATTAN, 27. Fernando BRANDAN
Unused Subs: 1. Thomas SORENSEN, 18.Paulo RETRE
Perth Glory FC
33.Liam REDDY (GK) 2.Alex GRANT, 3.Marc WARREN, 6.Dino DJULBIC, 8. Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 9. Andy KEOGH (16.Joe MILLS 89’), 10.Nebo MARINKOVIC, 14.Chris HAROLD (7.Joel CHIANESE 76’), 15.Brandon WILSON (24. Milan SMILJANIC 62’), 17.Diego CASTRO, 18.Josh RISDON,
Unused Subs: 13. Nick FEELY(GK), 11.Richard GARCIA
