As the countdown to our March 30th home blockbuster with Melbourne Victory continues (grab your tickets HERE), we’ve dipped into the Victory Vault for a second time to revisit a classic clash with the navy-and-whites from yesteryear.
On the agenda today is a trip back to November 2010 when Glory’s highest-profile signing of all time stole the show.
Robbie Fowler, the man known as ‘God’ by the Liverpool fans during his time with the Merseyside club, had arrived with a huge fanfare ahead of the 2010/11 season, creating a storm of media interest.
Despite some impressive performances, however, the England international was not especially prolific during the first half of the season.
That was all to change in Round 14, however, when Victory found themselves well and truly in the Fowler firing line.
With 13 minutes on the clock, the striker’s burst into the box was ended by a crude challenge from Roddy Vargas and there was never any doubt about who would take the penalty.
Glory’s number nine stepped up and although Perth’s own Michael Petkovic blocked his initial effort, Fowler reacted quickest to bury the rebound.
Shortly after the break, the marquee man doubled his and Glory’s tally, showcasing his legendary predatory instincts by latching on to a scuffed cross from Scott Neville and tucking a low shot past Petkovic.
The hat-trick was on, The Shed were desperate for it to happen and Fowler was in the mood to oblige.
Just after the hour-mark, Adriano Pellegrino supplied a chipped through-ball that caught the Victory defence flat-footed and appealing in vain for offside, leaving Fowler free to race in and find the net with his trusty left foot.
Mate Dugandzic’s late reply was nothing more than a consolation effort for Ernie Merrick’s men as Glory cruised to victory and nib Stadium reverberated with chants in praise of the man with the divine touch in front of goal.
We’d love to get your memories of this game and Fowler’s spell at Glory in general, so please join the conversation on Facebook HERE or Twitter HERE.
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