Σάββατο 25 Απριλίου 2015

Western Sydney 1-2 Perth Glory: Keogh clinches Wanderland win



Andy Keogh's second-half winner helped a ten-man Perth Glory complete their tainted campaign on a high with a 2-1 win at Western Sydney Wanderers.

It was a resilient performance from the Glory who opened the scoring early on through Jamie McLaren, only for A-League debutant Liam Youlley to equalise soon after the break.

The result pushed Perth to 50 points and trailing leaders Melbourne Victory only on goal difference, however the Glory's recent high-profile salary cap infringement means they will be relegated to seventh after the completion of this weekend's round.

And with the Wanderers guaranteed of finishing their underachieving campaign in ninth position, little was riding on the result.

The match was delayed for 50 minutes after a torrent of small hailstones carpeted the pitch following a heavy storm which moved across Sydney half an hour before kick-off.

In truth it was only modest Anzac Day entertainment offered up on a slippery pitch at Pirtek Stadium.

With Asian Champions League commitments looming the Wanderers named four teenagers in their side including first-timer Youlley, and Shayne D'Cunha who was making his maiden starting appearance.

Perth Glory started far better and Richard Garcia's looping header hit the post, before the visitors took the lead on 17 minutes.

McLaren followed up last week's hat-trick with the opener after profiting from Rostyn Griffiths' pass, and finishing with a low shot.

Wanderers failed to find any real rhythm until past the half-hour mark with striker Kerem Bulut forcing a sharp save from Glory custodian Danny Vukovic, while Steve Kuzmanovski did likewise soon after.

After the break Garcia deflected a wayward shot onto the crossbar only for De Silva to wildly spoon the follow-up over in one of the misses of the season.

Having threatened to go two goals clear, a poor lapse from Glory allowed the Wanderers their equaliser as an unmarked Youlley drew his side level with a low shot that took three deflections as it trickled through a crowd of legs.

Keogh, however, had the final say midway through the second half after directing an impressive first-time finish inside the far post following superb lead-up from Josh Risdon.


Fullback Denis Kramer was then sent off after picking up two soft cautions leaving Glory to hang on for the second win in three matches since the salary cap penalties were announced.

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