Category Archives: SPORTS

Adelaide United have continued their run as Perth Glory’s bogey side this season beating the A-League football leaders 2-1 in sweltering conditions in Perth.

Kick-off was pushed back from 5pm local time to 5.30pm on Monday but that made no difference with the temperature at 39 degrees at kick-off and still 35 by full-time.

Despite the difficult conditions, the teams delivered an entertaining affair with Nebojsa Marinkovic scoring for Glory in the 11th minute against the run of play.

Adelaide however continued to make the majority of the running, leading to goals from Craig Goodwin in the 31st minute and then the winner in the 49th thanks to James Jeggo.

Adelaide have now handed Perth their only two losses of the A-League season on top of beating them in the final of the inaugural FFA Cup.

Monday’s win in scorching heat takes the Reds back into second position on the table ahead of Wellington Phoenix, who slip back to third.

Perth remains three points clear on top heading into the league’s two-week Asian Cup hiatus and given the extreme heat, and the three-day turnaround from Friday’s 2-1 win over Melbourne Victory, coach Kenny Lowe will remain a happy man over the next fortnight.

Adelaide made all the running in the opening 10 minutes, but Glory did what has become their trademark and scored early in the 11th minute.

Andy Keogh perfectly put the ball into the path of Marinkovic, who then struck a ground ball past Reds’ keeper Paul Izzo, allowing the home side to lead 1-0.

It didn’t last long and even though Adelaide were creating their own chances, the equaliser came courtesy of a horror mistake from one of Glory’s most experienced and reliable campaigners.

Richard Garcia took things far too easy in his own half and with little pressure on him, he horribly miscued a back pass towards keeper Danny Vukovic, only for Goodwin to swoop for Adelaide and easily beat Vukovic to score.

Scores remained tied going into half-time but Adelaide continued to attack hard, ending up with what turned out to be the match-winner in the 49th minute.

Sergio Cirio set up Bruce Djite down the flank, putting the ball into the path of Jeggo in the box, who coolly slotted it past Vukovic.

Adelaide coach Josep Gombau was delighted with the win because of the huge difference between six points off top and 12 adrift.

“I am so happy because we know to win here, in this place, is very difficult,” he said.

“To get these three points, it has big value because if we had lost this game there would have been a 12 points difference, now there’s six.”

“To take this break now… coming after this win, we will recharge our batteries and then come back.”

The Glory coach Kenny Lowe felt his team deserved at least a point but as Perth remains six points clear and were on an eight-game home winning streak, he was not too disappointed.

“The boys came out in the second half and really put a shift in, really had a go trying to get back into the game. I thought we finished the stronger side,” he said.

“Fair play to our players and we probably should have got something out of it in the end, but you can’t win them all.”

source: radionz.nz

PAOK had Marc Antonio Carter scoring 18 points and Vangelis Margaritis register a career record with 16, while James Gist notched up 18 for the Greens.

PAOK forced Panathinaikos’s second consecutive defeat in the Basket League on Sunday as it triumphed over the Greek champion with a 71-54 score in Thessaloniki.

In a game postponed from mid-November, PAOK was superior for virtually the entire encounter at the PAOK Sports Hall, although the Greens fought back in the second period to end the first half two points ahead (32-30).

The very tight defense of PAOK – that contained Panathinaikos to just 54 points in 40 minutes – as well as the poor shooting rate of the visitors in three-pointers and free throws allowed PAOK to edge ahead in the third period and built an unassailable lead in the last quarter. The partial score of the last period was 21-9 in the hosts’ favor.

PAOK had Marc Antonio Carter scoring 18 points and Vangelis Margaritis register a career record with 16, while James Gist notched up 18 for the Greens.

The result means that Olympiakos is alone on top of the table, one point ahead of Panathinaikos, with PAOK two points behind the Greens but also with a game in hand.

This was the only league game played this weekend, with the 12th round of games scheduled for January 10-12.

Source: Kathimerini

Χωρίς έκπληξη για τους «μεγάλους» της Premier League ολοκληρώθηκε η δεύτερη μέρα του 3ου γύρου του Κυπέλλου Αγγλίας.

Τσέλσι, Μάντσεστερ Γιουνάϊτεντ, Μάντσεστερ Σίτι και Άρσεναλ κέρδισαν τις Γουότφορντ, Γέοβιλ, Σέφιλντ Γουένσντεϊ και Χαλ αντίστοιχα και πήραν την πρόκριση τους στην επόμενη φάση.

Από την άλλη θύμα έκπληξης «έπεσε» η ΚΠΡ, η οποία ηττήθηκε με 3-1 από τη Σέφιλντ Γιουνάιτεντ και αποκλείστηκε από την επόμενη φάση.

Η Σαουθάμπτον έμεινε στο 1-1 με την Ιπσουϊτς ενώ Άστον Βίλα και Σάντερλαντ κέρδισαν με το ίδιο σκορ (1-0) τις Μπλάκπουλ και Λιντς αντίστοιχα.

Σε αγώνες του 3ου γύρου του Κυπέλλου Αγγλίας σημειώθηκαν τα εξής αποτελέσματα:

Σάββατο (3/01):
Κάρντιφ-Κόλτσεστερ 3-1
ΜΚ Ντονς-Τσέστερφιλντ 0-1
Μπάρνσλεϊ-Μίντλεσμπρο 0-2
Μπλάιθ Σπάρτανς-Μπέρμιγχαμ 2-3
Μπόλτον-Γουϊγκαν 1-0
Μπρέντφορντ-Μπράιτον 0-2
Κέμπριτζ-Λούτον 2-1
Τσάρλτον-Μπλάκμπερν 1-2
Ντέρμπι-Σάουθπορτ 1-0
Ντονκάστερ-Μπρίστολ Σίτι 1-1
Φούλαμ-Γουλβς 0-0
Χάντερσφιλντ-Ρέντινγκ 0-1
Λέστερ-Νιούκαστλ 1-0
Μίλγουολ-Μπράντφορντ 3-3
Πρέστον-Νόριτς 2-0
Ροτσντέιλ-Νότιγχαμ 1-0
Ρόδεραμ-Μπόρνμουθ 1-5
Τρανμίρ-Σουόνσι 2-6
Γουέστ Μπρομ-Γκέιτσχεντ 7-0

Κυριακή (4/01):
Ντόβερ-Κρίσταλ Πάλας 0-4
ΚΠΡ-Σέφιλντ Γιουνάιτεντ 0-3
Σάντερλαντ-Λιντς 1-0
Άστον Βίλα-Μπλάκπουλ 1-0
Μάντσεστερ Σίτι-Σέφιλντ Γουέν.2-1
Σαουθάμπτον-Ιπσουϊτς 1-1
Στόουκ Σίτι-Ρέξαμ 3-1
Γέοβιλ-Μάντσεστερ Γ. 0-2
Τσέλσι-Γουόρφορντ 3-0
Άρσεναλ-Χαλ 2-0

Δευτέρα (5/01):
Μπέρνλι-Τότεναμ
Γουϊμπλεντον-Λίβερπουλ

Τρίτη (6/01):
Έβερτον-Γουέστ Χαμ

Πηγή: in.gr

The interim boss didn’t like what he saw from his players after they slumped to a comprehensive loss on the road at the in-form New Zealand outfit.

Brisbane Roar coach Frans Thijssen has demanded improvement from his players after a 3-0 loss to Wellington Phoenix at Westpac Stadium.

The loss leaves the Roar outside the playoff spots going into the mid-season break and the Dutchman pulled no punches in assessing his side’s performance.

“Not positive at all,” said Thijssen.  

“You can give a goal away but you have to fight back and that fighting back, I didn’t see. We lost so many balls, simple balls in a one-against-one (situation), like last week in the first half against Sydney. We lost too many fights. Sometimes you have to fight to get back in the game. That wasn’t there today. You can lose games but not the way we lost today. I’m not happy with it.”

“You need a couple of guys to stand up when you’re 1-0 down and things are not going well. You have to make sure you fight as a team and make sure you wake up the players around you. You can’t always win games with nice football. We never got back in the game and that was the biggest problem today.”

Thijssen believes the three-week A-League break for the Asian Cup has come at the right time for his side.

“We have to look at the group. It’s good for us that a couple of guys are coming back from injury because in certain positions we have a problem, especially when you need to stand up and when you need to fight back. That’s what I missed from the team today.”

The Roar boss was also incensed with the awarding of a penalty to the Phoenix after Jeremy Brockie collided with Jamie Young early in the second half.

“What can the goalkeeper do there? He (Brockie) is running into the goalkeeper and he gets a penalty. The referee doesn’t give the penalty, but the linesman gives the penalty. It was a strange thing. After that you had the feeling it was over”, said Thijssen.

“I blame the referee a little bit because he didn’t make the decision – he left it to the linesman – but I blame my players more because we didn’t show enough today.”

“There were some players with their heads down and that’s not good and something we have to look at. If you throw in the towel that quick in the game, that’s not a good thing.”

But Thijssen admitted his side were second-best on the day.

“Wellington deserved to win. They were the better team.”

source: goal.com

Σημαντική νίκη με την οποία βελτίωσε την θέση του στην βαθμολογία του Νότιου ομίλου, πέτυχε ο Αχαρναϊκός, καθώς στο πλαίσιο της 11ης αγωνιστικής για την Β` εθνική, επικράτησε στα Ψαχνά του τοπικού Ηρακλή με 2-0. Τα τέρματα των νικητών πέτυχαν οι Ιορδανίδης (19`) και Ταμπάκης (38`).

Όσον αφορά το Βόρειο όμιλο, η ΑΕΛ πήρε με 2-0 το ντέρμπι της Θεσσαλίας με την Αναγέννηση χάρη στην έμπνευση του Καρανίκα που την έβαλε μπροστά στο σκορ.

Πηγή:in.gr

Με το… δεξί ξεκίνησε ο ΠΑΟΚ μέσα στο 2015, καθώς ο Δικέφαλος του Βορρά κατάφερε να ανατρέψει το διπλό προβάδισμα του Πανιωνίου (ΠΑΟΚ – Πανιώνιος 3-2) για να πάρει το «τρίποντο» κορυφής στην Τούμπα στο πλαίσιο της 17ης αγωνιστικής της Σούπερ Λιγκ.

Με πολλά λάθη και για τις δύο ομάδες η διαιτησία του Δελφάκη. Ένα πολύ εύκολο απόγευμα είχε ο Παναιτωλικός στη Βέροια όπου κέρδισε την τοπική ομάδα (Βέροια – Παναιτωλικός 1-3) και συνέχισε τις πολύ καλές εμφανίσεις, ενώ ανέβηκε στην 5η θέση της βαθμολογίας.

Ο δεύτερος αγώνας της ημέρας περιελάμβανε έκπληξη, αφού ο Αστέρας Τρίπολης «σκόνταψε» στην Κέρκυρα όπου ηττήθηκε από την ομώνυμη ομάδα (Κέρκυρα – Αστέρας Τρίπολης 1-0).

Συνέχεια την Κυριακή…

Την Κυριακή, ο δεύτερος της βαθμολογίας, Ολυμπιακός, θα φιλοξενήσει τον Πλατανιά Χανίων στο Φάληρο, ενώ ο τρίτος, Παναθηναϊκός μάχεται στα Γιάννενα κόντρα στην… κακοκαιρία και τον ΠΑΣ.

Ακόμη, ο αγώνας του ΟΦΗ με τη Νίκη Βόλου ματαιώθηκε, ενώ Ατρόμητος – Καλλονή και Λεβαδειακός – Εργοτέλης αναμένεται να δώσουν σκληρές «μάχες» για την κατάκτηση των τριών βαθμών.

Η αγωνιστική θα ολοκληρωθεί την Δευτέρα με το ντέρμπι της Θράκης ανάμεσα στην Ξάνθη – και τον Πανθρακικό.

Το πρόγραμμα (σ.σ. όλοι οι αγώνες θα μεταδοθούν τηλεοπτικά από την NOVA) και η βαθμολογία, έχουν ως εξής:

ΣΑΒΒΑΤΟ 3/1/2015
Βέροια – Παναιτωλικός 1-3
Κέρκυρα – Αστέρας Τρίπολης 1-0
ΠΑΟΚ – Πανιώνιος 3-2

ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 4/1/2015
Ολυμπιακός – Πλατανιάς (15:00, «Γεώργιος Καραϊσκάκης»)
Ατρόμητος – Καλλονή (17:15, Δημ. Στάδιο Περιστερίου)
Λεβαδειακός – Εργοτέλης (17:15, Δημ. Στάδιο Λιβαδειάς)
ΠΑΣ Γιάννινα – Παναθηναϊκός (19:30, Στάδιο «Οι Ζωσιμάδες»)
ΟΦΗ – Νίκη Βόλου ματαιώθηκε

ΔΕΥΤΕΡΑ 5/1/2015
Ξάνθη – Πανθρακικός (19:30, “SKODA Ξάνθη Arena”

Πηγή:in.gr

As Perth pounced and Newcastle were nuked at home, Round 13 of the A-League, the first of the new year, has finished and now Round 14 is upon us before the competition is on hiatus for the Asian Cup.

Brisbane and Sydney FC played out a goalless draw, the same as Western Sydney and the Mariners, and the Glory cemented their spot at the top of the ladder.

Round 14 began in Wollongong on Saturday night, with Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets battling it out in fifth versus ninth, with both clubs struggling. The match finished in a goalless draw.

Wellington Phoenix versus Brisbane Roar: Flying phoenix
No Nathan Burns but no worries for Wellington, especially when Tyler Boyd is in the mood to finish. Boyd scored two late and spectacular goals as the Phoenix saw off Adelaide 3-1 and the Kiwis will be favourites for another victory on home soil.

The Roar ship has been steadied in recent weeks, a pair of draws coming after a win over the Reds. Brisbane isn’t playing the scintillating football of last season but they are becoming tougher to beat, a welcome sight considering the talent they are missing. But the Phoenix continue to impress and surprise, especially their Dutch talisman Roly Bonevacia. Wellington should be too strong at the Cake Tin for the Roar.

Central Coast Mariners versus Melbourne City: City rising
One team in a form slump, the other in a spell of good form. Melbourne City have turned a corner with victories over Newcastle, Victory and Brisbane. John van ‘t Schip will be keen to keep this going over a side that is struggling to score goals.

Aaron Mooy was unlucky to miss the Socceroos’ Asian Cup squad but Australia’s loss is City’s gain. The midfielder is finding the back of the net and when partnered with Erik Paartalu, City have a mobile and skilful midfield that will give any team a contest. Tando Velaphi is making the most of his chance in goal, all City needs now is some regular goalscorers up front.

What the Mariners would give for some of those as well. Matt Simon has found his scoring boots but other in-form marksmen are rare on the Coast. The Mariners are averaging just 0.7 goals a game, a return just not good enough for the A-League or any other competition for that matter. Phil Moss needs the likes of Mitch Duke and Nick Fitzgerald to fire for Central Coast to get its season back on track.

Perth Glory versus Adelaide United: Glory days
The Glory bandwagon rolls on in the west with Perth now seven points clear at the top. They were too good for Victory in Geelong and their next test comes in the form of a struggling Adelaide, who have lost three of their past four.

It’s true that Adelaide haven’t been playing badly, in fact they have dominated most of these games and have been creating chances, but just find it hard to find the back of the net. An influx of returning players should help, especially the likes of Nigel Boogard and Tarek Elrich to shore up the defence.

Perth has only lost one game this season and that was against Adelaide. If they can beat the Reds this time round it will be hard to see anyone stopping them from claiming the Premier’s Plate at this point. Adelaide’s pretty passing and fluid movement will cause them problems but the Glory’s back five, in particular centre backs Thwaite and Djublic, are in great touch and will be ready for the battle.

Western Sydney versus Melbourne Victory
The fans aren’t happy, the players aren’t happy, Tony Popovic isn’t happy – where did it all go wrong at Wanderland? The club’s Champions League success seems like a lifetime ago as their winless run domestically stretches to 11 games. Something has to give and a squad cleanout is expected in January. The Wanderers’ visa players have largely flattered to deceive while they’ll also have to do without both Tomi Juric and Matt Spiranovic in this game, with both on international duty.

Victory aren’t in a Western Sydney-like funk but they are in a bit of a slump with losses to Perth and City in the past three weeks. Defensively is where the problems lie, with Nathan Coe and Adrian Leijer both at fault for goals against Perth. Victory has high standards and will be expecting to win this one. Several players had off games in Geelong but this is unlikely to be repeated at Parramatta Stadium. I’m expecting the Wanderers malaise to continue on Tuesday.

source:theroar.com.au

Sydney FC’s goal drought and winless streak continued, as Newcastle goalkeeper Ben Kennedy earned the Jets a 0-0 draw in the A-League’s first match in Wollongong on Saturday evening.

The result stretched to 374 minutes the time since the Sky Blues last scored and extended their winless run to seven matches, their worst run for four years.

Kennedy made several saves to frustrate the fifth-placed Sky Blues and deny the crowd of 11,377 a goal.

After conceding in each of their previous 13 matches, the ninth-placed Jets finally kept an opponent scoreless and had chances to win the encounter, particularly in the second half.

The Sky Blues’ Austria international striker Marc Janko came the closest to breaking the deadlock before half-time.

He bulged the net with a spectacular left-foot volley, rubbed out by a marginal offside call and struck the post with a legitimate effort.

Janko was off target from close range when he followed up after Kennedy parried shots from Alex Brosque and Peter Triantis.

Bernie Ibini headed wide from close range and had a strong shot pouched by Kennedy as well.

The Jets created few opportunities before the break, with an unmarked Mitch Cooper mis-timing a volley wide and Geronimo blasting a powerful shot over the bar.

With Joel Griffiths replacing Cooper at half-time, the previously cautious Jets showed much more enterprise and had three good chances in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

Geronimo had one header saved by Vedran Janjetovic and put another one wide.

Janjetovic then fumbled a corner and Adrian Madaschi watched his header cleared off the line by Sky Blues captain Brosque.

The Sky Blues regained the ascendancy with Brosque and Ibini each having an effort saved by Kennedy and Janko blasting a free-kick over the bar.

Jets substitute Edson Montano had an instant impact, firing in a powerful shot that Janjetovic tipped away.

The impassable Kennedy pushed away another effort from Ibini and he saved one final header from Janko.

source: abc.net.au

Με τις αναμετρήσεις της 17ης αγωνιστικής συνεχίζεται το πρωτάθλημα της Σούπερ Λιγκ. Ο πρωτοπόρος ΠΑΟΚ, υποδέχεται τον Πανιώνιο στην Τούμπα (19:30) και θέλει να μπει με το… δεξί στη νέα χρονιά.

Σχετικά δύσκολη αποστολή αναμένεται να έχει και ο Αστέρας Τρίπολης που δοκιμάζεται στην Κέρκυρα (17:15) από την ομώνυμη ομάδα. Χωρίς φαβορί είναι και η χρονικά πρώτη αναμέτρηση του 2015 ανάμεσα στη Βέροια και τον Παναιτωλικό (15:00).

Την Κυριακή, ο δεύτερος της βαθμολογίας, Ολυμπιακός, θα φιλοξενήσει τον Πλατανιά Χανίων στο Φάληρο, ενώ ο τρίτος, Παναθηναϊκός μάχεται στα Γιάννενα κόντρα στην… κακοκαιρία και τον ΠΑΣ.

Ακόμη, ο αγώνας του ΟΦΗ με τη Νίκη Βόλου ματαιώθηκε, ενώ Ατρόμητος – Καλλονή και Λεβαδειακός – Εργοτέλης αναμένεται να δώσουν σκληρές «μάχες» για την κατάκτηση των τριών βαθμών.

Η αγωνιστική θα ολοκληρωθεί την Δευτέρα με το ντέρμπι της Θράκης ανάμεσα στην Ξάνθη – και τον Πανθρακικό.

Το πρόγραμμα (σ.σ. όλοι οι αγώνες θα μεταδοθούν τηλεοπτικά από την NOVA) και η βαθμολογία, έχουν ως εξής:

ΣΑΒΒΑΤΟ 3/1/2015
Βέροια – Παναιτωλικός (15:00, Δημ. Στάδιο Βέροιας)
Κέρκυρα – Αστέρας Τρίπολης (17:15, ΕΑΚ Κέρκυρας)
ΠΑΟΚ – Πανιώνιος (19:30, Τούμπα)

ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 4/1/2015
Ολυμπιακός – Πλατανιάς (15:00, «Γεώργιος Καραϊσκάκης»)
Ατρόμητος – Καλλονή (17:15, Δημ. Στάδιο Περιστερίου)
Λεβαδειακός – Εργοτέλης (17:15, Δημ. Στάδιο Λιβαδειάς)
ΠΑΣ Γιάννινα – Παναθηναϊκός (19:30, Στάδιο «Οι Ζωσιμάδες»)
ΟΦΗ – Νίκη Βόλου ματαιώθηκε

ΔΕΥΤΕΡΑ 5/1/2015
Ξάνθη – Πανθρακικός (19:30, “SKODA Ξάνθη Arena”)

ΣΥΝΟΛΟ ΕΝΤΟΣ ΕΚΤΟΣ
ΑΓ. Ν-Ι-Η Ν-Ι-Η Ν-Ι-Η ΤΕΡΜ. ΒΑΘ.
1. ΠΑΟΚ 15 11-1-3 6-1-1 5-0-2 33-17 34
2. Ολυμπιακός 15 10-3-2 6-1-1 4-2-1 35-11 33
3. Παναθηναϊκός 15 9-2-4 6-0-1 3-2-3 24-15 29
4. Αστέρας Τρίπολης 15 8-4-3 4-3-0 4-1-3 25-17 28
5. Βέροια 15 7-4-4 6-1-0 1-3-4 21-20 25
6. Παναιτωλικός 15 6-6-3 4-1-2 2-5-1 19-11 24
. Ξάνθη 15 7-3-5 6-1-0 1-2-5 26-22 24
8. ΠΑΣ Γιάννινα 15 6-5-4 5-2-1 1-3-3 20-15 23
. Ατρόμητος 15 6-5-4 4-3-0 1-2-4 15-13 23
10. Καλλονή 15 5-6-4 4-3-1 1-3-3 11-12 21
11. Κέρκυρα 15 5-3-7 4-1-3 1-2-4 16-20 18
. Πλατανιάς Χανίων 15 5-3-7 3-1-3 2-2-4 12-15 18
13. Πανιώνιος 15 4-3-8 4-2-2 0-1-6 15-20 15
14. Λεβαδειακός 15 3-5-7 1-4-3 2-1-4 15-16 14
. ΟΦΗ 15 4-2-9 3-1-3 1-1-6 9-23 14
16. Πανθρακικός 15 2-6-7 2-5-0 0-1-7 11-24 12
17. Εργοτέλης 15 2-4-9 1-2-5 1-2-4 14-27 10
18. Νίκη Βόλου 15 2-1-12 2-1-4 0-0-8 7-30 7

The eastern states surely can’t keep talking down the WA outfit after they extended their advantage at the top of the standings by beating their nearest rivals on the road.

Perth Glory restated their A-League title credentials in convincing fashion on Friday night, holding off fellow challengers Melbourne Victory to win 2-1 away from home.

First-half goals from Andy Keogh and Chris Harold sealed an important triumph for Kenny Lowe’s men, who survived conceding a penalty after the break to extend their lead to seven points at the top of the table with one round remaining before the break for the AFC Asian Cup.

It was just a second defeat of the league season for Victory, who came within inches of equalising when Archie Thompson’s header hit the crossbar with 16 minutes remaining.

Kevin Muscat’s side, missing several key players through injury and international duty, will surely stay firmly in the hunt for silverware despite this setback.

Goals

0-1 (Andy Keogh 9′)

The opening goal started with a great piece of skill from the much-maligned Ruben Zadkovich, whose propensity for indiscipline has reduced him to a figure of fun since moving to Perth.

This time the former Newcastle Jet caught the eye for the right reasons, performing a neat roulette to beat two men and feed Nebojsa Marinkovic, fit-again and restored to the Glory starting XI after being badly missed away to Melbourne City on Boxing Day.

Victory centre-back Adrian Leijer, a product of the Surf Coast and playing in front of his adoring public, allowed the Serbian’s careful ball forward to bounce and was then comprehensively outmuscled by Keogh, who advanced into the area and guided a confident finish across Nathan Coe.

0-2 (Chris Harold 16′)

For his next trick, midfield magician Marinkovic dispatched a through-ball that split the Victory defence and prompted Coe to charge out of his goal. Unfortunately for the hosts, Harold nipped in first to take the ball past the stranded goalkeeper, before sliding it into an unguarded net with the angle narrowing.

1-2 (Besart Berisha pen 58′)

A slick passing move of one and two touches, including Leigh Broxham playing a back-heel to himself to wrong-foot Zadkovich, ended with Guilherme Finkler going to ground under Scott Jamieson’s challenge.

Berisha made no mistake from the spot, sending Vukovic the wrong way and then exchanging verbals with the Perth keeper, who obviously didn’t like what he heard from his old grand final nemesis, rushing forward to remonstrate with the match official.

Key moment

It’s debatable whether or not Jamieson got the ball before felling Finkler, but with referee Shaun Evans deeming it to be a foul, it’s hard to understand how the left-back, who had already been booked, stayed on the pitch. If Glory had gone down to 10 men as well as conceding, could they have kept Victory out in the remaining 30 minutes?

Opta Data key stats

This game was proof of the fact the only numbers that really matter are those on the scoreboard. Victory bested Glory in just about every passing and attacking statistic, registering more shots, playing more passes, having more of the ball, passing it with more accuracy, winning more duels and playing in more crosses. But it’s the team from WA who will head back across the Nullarbor with the spoils.

Treatment table

A nasty cut to the mouth in the second half prompted the Glory medical staff to transform Keogh into the A-League’s answer to The Mummy. Although the Irishman might have got a gig into the Brendan Fraser remake, he wasn’t a patch on the Boris Karloff original

The Final Word

Perth face one more major examination before the Asian Cup break when they host Adelaide at nib Stadium on Monday night. Josep Gombau’s men have beaten Glory twice at Coopers Stadium in the league and the FFA Cup final this season but are yet to travel west in 2014-15.

Victory meanwhile will be confident of getting back to winning ways away to struggling Western Sydney on Tuesday.

Teams

Melbourne Victory: Coe, Geria, Ansell, Leijer, Galloway, Broxham, Valeri, Barbarouses (Pain 69′), Finkler, Thompson, Berisha.

Perth Glory: Vukovic, Risdon, Thwaite, Djulbic, Jamieson, Griffiths, Zadkovich, Marinkovic (Clisby 92′), Harold (Maclaren 64′), Garcia, Keogh (Sidnei 91′).

Scorers: Keogh 9′, Harold 16′, Berisha pen 58′
Red cards: None
Yellow cards: Risdon 19, Jamieson 29′, Zadkovich 52′, Valeri 55′
Conditions: 36 degrees, dry
Attendace: 21,289@Simonds Stadium

source: goal.com