- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Perth coach Dave Mitchell praised his team’s resolve after the Glory held firm for a 2-1 win over A-League rivals Wellington at nib Stadium on Sunday.
The Glory looked set to post an easy win after Mile Sterjovski’s fifth-minute strike and Robbie Fowler’s headed goal on the hour gave the ladder-leaders a 2-0 lead.
But the Phoenix came storming back in the second half, with Ben Sigmund’s 72nd-minute header kick-starting the Wellington challenge.
Glory goalkeeper Tando Velaphi pulled off a fantastic reflex save to deny Chris Greenacre’s close-range strike in the 82nd minute, while the Phoenix also had a late penalty appeal waved away.
Mitchell was pleased with how his team held firm in the dying minutes after watching the Glory give up a stoppage-time equaliser to North Queensland in round one.
“You bite your fingernails when you’re thinking ‘not again (to concede a late equaliser) after building a commanding lead of 2-0’,” Mitchell said.
“But we’ve held on, which is an important factor for us.
“Credit to the boys … Tando’s made an important save late in the game.”
Phoenix defender Andrew Durante was lucky to not give up a penalty for his clumsy tackle on Fowler in the 59th minute.
But Wellington were the ones feeling aggrieved 20 minutes later when their cries of handball against Glory midfielder Steven McGarry in the box went unheard.
“I didn’t see it but the boys up front said they thought it was a pretty clear handball,” Durante said of the handball shout.
“I haven’t seen any replays or anything.
“But we can’t come away and let goals go in early like that and chase the game. It’s hard enough being away and to cop one early is difficult.
“… We fought to the end and were a bit unlucky in the end not to pinch a 2-2 draw.”
The Glory’s third win of the season, played out in front of 10,844 fans, lifts them to equal top of the table with Adelaide.
Wellington remain in eighth spot with just a win and a draw to show from four games.
Sterjovski was inspirational in his first game back from an ankle injury, scoring a goal and setting one up for Fowler.
The former Socceroo, who has scored three goals this season, played out the match despite rolling his suspect ankle in the first half.
“He was carrying an injury in the second half and we just said ‘look, we need you to stay on’ because there was a few other players suffering that probably had to be changed,” Mitchell said.
“There was a bit of grit and determination from him to stay on.”
The win was sweet revenge for Glory, who were knocked out of the finals last season by Wellington.
AAP jsc/gjw
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.