In A-League of its Own: The Final Three

Tom’s weekly outlook on the A-League

Perth Glory have made the final 3 of the A-League for the first time following a heart stopping 3-2 win over a gallant Wellington Phoenix at nib Stadium on Saturday. Centre half Bas van den Brink opened the scoring with a header just 13 minutes in to the game. Just after half time former Tranmere striker Chris Greenacre levelled up proceedings, knocking in a volleyed teed up perfectly by Tim Brown. Soon afterwards, the right hand side of the field again opened up for the Phoenix, and it was Manny Muscat who managed to score just his second ever A-League goal by bending one around Vukovic. But then with 20 minutes to play, Perth scored once again to put the result in serious doubt yet again when Shane Smeltz set up Billy Mehmet for a placed volley into the bottom right corner from close range. With no more goals before the end of 90 minutes, the game went into extra time, and Perth’s dominance in the first period paid off just 7 into the second when Todd Howarth slid the ball past Vukovic to hand his team a place in the preliminary final. 

Perth’s opponents will be the Central Coast Mariners, after they were beaten 3-2 at home in the second leg of the major semi-final. Holding a 2-0 lead from their home win the week before, the Roar could afford to sit back and defend, but just 1 minute in, Tomas Broich scored from an indirect free kick after the ball went through the pack of players and bounced into the top corner. It was soon 2-0 when Mitch Nichols scored a lovely goal from a narrow angle to put the Roar 4-0 ahead on aggregate. But 2 gaols in 5 minutes to Patrick Zwaanswijk and then Adam Kwasnik put the tie back within touching distance for the Mariners; however a late goal to Henrique ended all speculation about the result of the game. The Roar get the week off to watch who they will play in two weeks’ time at Suncorp Stadium.

About Tom Riordan

Tom Riordan is in his second year of a Bachelor of Journalism at Swinburne University. He loves all sports, and plays for Brunswick Cricket Club. He supports the Western Bulldogs and can be found on weekends among half a dozen others in Q38 on the top level of the MCC.

Comments

  1. Lots of goals. Hard to get a profile once the AFL and NRL start.

  2. Another great result for Brisbane Roar.
    “There’s only one team in Queensland!!”

  3. Eagles are playing GWS next week, so we are loaning Josh Kennedy and Quinten Lynch to the Glory to give them a bit of height and ‘mongrel’ up front.
    Look out Lions – sorry Roar – we’re coming for you!!

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