Star Perth Glory striker Andy Keogh headed home a stoppage-time winner to lift his side to a 3-2 victory over Brisbane Roar in Sunday’s clash at nib Stadium.
The Roar appeared on track for their first win of the season after Mensur Kurtisi’s maiden A-League goal and an Henrique wonderstrike gave the visitors at 2-1 edge in the 55th minute.
But Keogh, who scored in the 49th minute after being brought down in the box by Jade North, ensured the Roar went home with nothing.
WATCH THE LATEST A-LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS
Keogh made it 2-2 in the 74th minute when his powerful strike deflected off Roar defender James Donachie and into the back of the net.
It was Donachie’s second own goal in as many weeks after his sliding effort gifted Adelaide a goal in last week’s 2-1 loss.
Although Keogh wasn’t rewarded with Glory’s second goal, he sent the 8789 crowd into delirium during stoppage time when his header bounced into the ground and in for a goal.
The result left last year’s grand finalists Brisbane and Western Sydney rooted to the bottom of the table with no points to their name.
In contrast, Perth sit on top of the pile after following on from last week’s 2-1 triumph over Wellington.
Keogh now has three goals to his name and shapes as the man to catch for this season’s golden boot.
The Irish international could have scored a hat-trick against the Roar had another one of his close-range headers not cannoned straight into the goalkeeper.
Highlights were few and far between in the opening half as both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances on goal.
Kurtisi broke the deadlock in the 39th minute when he latched on to Henrique’s square-up and fired home from close range.
Glory upped the ante in the second half, and it paid early dividends when Keogh was brought down in the box by a lunging tackle from North.
Keogh nailed the penalty, but Henrique silenced the crowd just minutes later when he fired home a bullet from the edge of the box after being given too much space by Glory’s defence.
However, it was Glory who had the last laugh, with Donachie finding himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, before Keogh latched on to a corner in stoppage time to seal all three points.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Here is the way the Roar expert panel sees all the action unfolding across the final weekend of play prior to the semi-finals.
Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
Mathew Leckie played a pivotal part in Melbourne City claiming an 8-nil win; playing a role in several of his team's goals.
The loser of the Sydney Derby will be under immense pressure entering the final three matches of the season.
Anthony Caceres is a player with immense talent and has a fantastic work rate, broke the deadlock against the Mariners in the 74th minute.
Round 19 was an interesting weekend of football with no draws, 19 goals in six matches, two five-goal games on Sunday and for the…
