Glory goalkeeper Liam Reddy was the hero for Perth after the veteran shot stopper pulled off two crucial penalty saves in a dramatic 3-3 draw against championship favourites Melbourne City at AAMI Park on Tuesday night.
There were six goals, three penalties (two saved), two red cards and a disallowed goal in what has been billed as a Hyundai A-League classic which saw Diego Castro back to his best with a crucial double and Liam Reddy playing the game of his life in a man of the match performance.
Glory started the encounter brightly, with Castro’s fast feet and vision causing early headaches for the City defence. The Spaniard’s cross in the 2nd minute found winger Chris Harold at the back post, but his header fell agonisingly wide of the upright.
The opening five minutes served to set the tone for the first half with a flurry of chances coming inside 45 minutes.
City made Glory pay for the missed opportunity just eight minutes into the encounter, with Socceroo Tim Cahill rising to head home the opener from the first corner of the match.
Perth didn’t allow the early setback to dwell too long, as Castro restored parity in the 21st minute. Chris Harold’s pacy run down the right-hand side and cutback found Castro unmarked just inside the area with plenty of time to coolly slot into the bottom left corner.
The first half action didn’t stop there, with City captain Bruno Fornaroli making it 2-1 with a curling effort into the top corner in the 36th minute.
Just three minutes later the Uruguayan striker was given the opportunity to extend the lead from the penalty spot after Marc Warren was judged to have fouled Bruce Kamau inside the area.
Reddy came to the rescue with a diving save to deny Fornaroli and launch a superb counter-attack leading to Castro again slotting into the bottom left-hand corner with Adam Taggart providing the pivotal pass.
The second half provided huge drama with Glory showing great character to level for a third time through Harold’s smart finish over Bouzanis in the 64th minute, just three minutes following Fornaroli’s converted penalty.
Just as it the seemed excitement was coming to an end in stoppage time, Dino Djulbic and Fernando Brandan were sent off for an altercation inside the box, which resulted in a third penalty being awarded to City.
But it was Reddy who kept his nerve to save a second Fornaroli penalty and secure a massive away point and see Glory creep back into the top six.
Glory will now turn its attention to its New Year’s Day clash against the Western Sydney Wanderers, before heading home to host the Wellington Phoenix for the first home game of 2017 at nib Stadium on January 5.
Key Moments:
First Half:
2′ Diego Castro’s teasing ball into the area is met by the head of Chris Harold, but his header falls narrowly wide of City’s goal.
8′ Andy Keogh’s dummy opens up the shot for Adam Taggart, but the Socceroo’s volley is saved by Dean Bouzanis.
9′ Tim Cahill opens the scoring for the home side with a trademark header following the first corner of the match.
17′ Nicolas Colazo goes for goal on a tight angle from a set-piece and forces Liam Reddy into a smart save.
21′ GOAL – Diego Castro restores parity for Glory, with his strike just inside the area finding the back of the net following Chris Harold’s sublime run and cutback.
29′ Castro’s tidy footwork keeps the ball alive as he then swings a cross into the box to find Alex Grant who’s left-foot strike is comfortably caught by Bouzanis.
36′ GOAL – Bruno Fornaroli restores the home side’s lead with a curling effort into the top corner.
38′ SAVED PENALTY – Marc Warren is deemed to have fouled Bruce Kamau inside the area. Fornaroli’s strike is smartly saved by Liam Reddy.
39′ GOAL – Reddy’s save launches a fantastic counter-attack, with Adam Taggart switching the play to find Castro, who is able to dribble inside the area and again cooly slot home.
Second Half:
61′ GOAL – Fornaroli steps up and converts from the penalty spot.
64′ GOAL – Glory levelled the match for a third time, with Harold smartly finishing over Bouzanis from Marinkovic’s smart ball over the top.
67′ Mariknovic’s fast feet finds the Serbian space to shoot from outside the area, but his powerful save is punched away by an outstretched Bouzanis.
79′ Kamau is unable to convert a loose ball from inside the six-yard box, as Reddy acts quickly to palm wide.
81′ Substitute Denis Genreau first touch of the match is a header on goal, but his strike is safely collected by Reddy.
87′ Marinkovic almost snatches a late winner with his swerving effort thundering against the crossbar.
90+5′ SAVED PENALTY – Fornaroli is denied a second time form the penalty spot, as Reddy again guesses the right way and ensures Glory take a point home to Perth.
SQUADS:
Perth Glory: 2. Alex GRANT, 3. Marc WARREN (20. Aryn WILLIAMS 77′), 6. Dino DJULBIC, 8. Rostyn GRIFFITHS (C), 9. Andy KEOGH, 14. Chris HAROLD, 15. Brandon WILSON, 17. Diego CASTRO (7. Joel CHIANESE 80′), 19. Joshua RISDON, 22. Adam TAGGART (10. Nebojsa Marinkovic 56′)
Subs not used: 30. Jordan THURTELL (GK), 24. Milan SMILJANIC
Yellow Cards: 3. Marc WARREN 16′, 6. Dino DJULBIC 43′
Red Cards: 6. Dino DJULBIC 90+1
Melbourne City: 2. Manny MUSCAT (27. Fernando BRANDAN 58′), 5. Ivan FRANJIC, 8. Neil KILKENNY, 9. Nicolas COLAZO, 10. Anthony CACERES (34. Denis GENREAU 80′), 11. Bruce KAMAU (14. Daniel ARZANI 90+7′), 17. Tim CAHILL, 20. Dean BOUZANIS (GK) 21. Ruon TONGYIK, 23. Bruno FORNAROLI (C), 26. Luke BRATTAN
Subs not used: 1. Thomas SORENSEN (GK), 4. Connor CHAPMAN
Yellow Cards: 2. Manny MUSCAT 28′, 8. Neil KILKENNY 45′, 21. Ruon TONGYIK 47′
Red Cards: 27. Fernando BRANDAN 90+3′
