Adriano Pellegrino for the Glory and Osama Malik for Queensland during the match between the Perth Glory and the North Queensland Fury in Perth, Friday, Aug. 6, 2010. (AAP Image/Tony McDonough)
Perth Glory owner Tony Sage will be delighted with what he saw off-the-field Friday night as 16,019 fans crammed into nib Stadium but his best laid plans could be held back again as the same old problems reared their head on the field.
I was amongst the 16,019 fans in the stands at nib Stadium on a chilly Perth evening but unfortunately for the majority of them, they went home disappointed by the result.
But at least they got an evening’s entertainment in a six-goal thriller.
The Glory showed plenty of heart fighting back from 2-1 down to snatch the lead with ten minutes to go after goals from the ever-impressive Scott Neville and Mile Sterjovski, but in the end it was only enough for a share of the spoils as Perth’s old injury-time issue came back to bite them.
Goalkeeper Tando Velaphi – who made a number of costly blunders last term – found himself in the wrong position for the Fury’s stoppage-time free-kick allowing Chris Grossman to head home from close-range for a dramatic equaliser.
For the neutrals, it was wonderful drama and entertainment, but for the 16,000 fans at nib Stadium it was a painful ending.
The crowd figure was the Glory’s best since the inception of the A-League, so Sage would’ve been hoping to offer a product which will entice plenty back. The numb feeling of disappointment, therefore, wasn’t ideal.
And Glory’s new international marquee Robbie Fowler – who’s presence alone swelled attendance numbers and was obviously popular with the fans given his reception when introduced to the crowd in Perth’s starting eleven before the game – only showed glimpses of the quality he promises.
You expect more will be needed from Fowler to keep the bandwagoners interested, but it was only his debut for the club.
On the other hand, a player who didn’t receive such a warm applause from the home fans was much-maligned defender Jamie Coyne. And he was culpable for North Queensland’s second after being found out of position following a poor clearance.
Coyne was forced to fill in alongside Jamie Harnwell at the back for the Glory in a makeshift central pairing.
Perth, of course, were missing star defensive duo Andy Todd and Chris Coyne, while Josh Mitchell – Glory’s next choice at the back – missed out due to issues with his international clearance from his former club Universitatea Craiova.
The aforementioned trio’s absence wasn’t ideal for such an occasion, but I dare say, Perth won’t concede three goals at home when those players are available.
Coach David Mitchell has had his critics in the past too, but he’ll be pleased by his side’s ability to swing the momentum in the game after going 2-1 down, although it’s hard to know what influence the gaffer had on that.
It was a stirring comeback, though, reminiscent of a top side, it’s just a pity for Perth the injury-time anxiety and nervousness returned at the death.
It’s also a pity for the Glory who probably couldn’t have asked for a better fixture to get their season underway in front of a large crowd and break their duck of never having won on the opening round of an A-League campaign.
The big question now is how many of Friday night’s crowd will come back in a fortnight’s time on election day when the Glory host the Newcastle Jets?
AGO74
Guest
Kosmina had two shots so he can't complain. The first one he self-destructed and the second he can have no complaints over. One Aussie who I was glad to see get a 2nd chance was Branko. He deserved it after his political boning by Sydney.
Realfootball
Guest
One wonders just how long Dave Mitchell has got. 4 games perhaps? It seems strange that Sage has spent so much on his team, yet kept a coach whose record is mediocre at best. In fact, if you weigh the players against the results, you would have to say that Perth under Mitchell have chronically underperformed. I feel for Mitchell, I really do. Coaches get one shot at an A League gig and if they fail, it's a long, long way back, if ever - ask Kosmina. Mitchell looks like a man under a lot of pressure, which he is. But the team and the fans deserve better, and Sage needs to act quickly and ruthlessly. It's a tough game, and Dave Mitchell has fallen short.
Midfielder
Guest
Was great to here the glory sing again...
mintox
Guest
The first half of last season was much the same as the first game of this season, 4-4-2, the same old long diagonal ball to the corner whenever anyone receives the ball at the back. We continually played speculative long balls to the corners and the question is whether the CB pairing were simply incapable of playing an accurate pass to the midfield (I wouldn't be surprised in the case of Jaime Coyne) or did Mitchell realise their shorcomings and ask them to play it long? Either way, it would seem that Mitchell does have half a brain, the arrival of McBreen last season heralded a change to either a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-5-1 and much more interplay in the Glory midfield. Is it too much to ask for a return to good football considering some of the players we now have? One would think that our defence will improve with it's first 3 choice CB's in the team and the attack will be bolstered by the return of Sikora and Baird. I'll grant Mitchell a stay of execution for now!
Whiteline
Guest
They won't get 16,000 again - bet your house on it. The longevity of Mitchell's tenure is a comedy.