Glory stun Victory in five-goal thriller

Tony Popovic has his first A-League win as Perth Glory boss thanks to Chris Ikonomidis’ 93rd-minute winner over Melbourne Victory.

Chris Ikonomidis has broken Melbourne Victory hearts and given Tony Popovic his first A-League win as Perth Glory boss, scoring a 93rd-minute winner in a 3-2 AAMI Park stunner.

The fringe Socceroo put paid to Victory’s stirring comeback with a late and great breakaway goal after the champions had erased a 2-0 deficit.

Keisuke Honda set up Victory’s two replies, setting up Terry Antonis’ 47th-minute effort and then crossing for Storm Roux’s equaliser with three minutes of regular time remaining.

The ex-Glory full-back rose alone in the box to head home Honda’s corner and spark wild scenes among the 17,219 in attendance.
They were left silent when Popovic’s side gathered themselves and responded late, with Ikonomidis adding to early efforts from Joel Chianese and Andy Keogh in the best game of the A-League season to date.

In a physical affair, Perth – as expected under their new boss – were organised and ruthless from the get-go.

Victory’s full-backs were asleep for the opener as Ivan Franjic marauded down the right and switched for Jason Davidson on the left.
Antonis failed to deal with the cross, allowing Chianese to poke home from an otherwise offside position.

A quarter-hour later, the entire back four ball-watched as Keogh stole through, latching onto Tomislav Mrcela’s headed clearance for defence to dink a second goal past Lawrence Thomas.

Victory were asleep but coach Kevin Muscat rattled the cage during the interval and saw his side lift.

Honda found Antonis 25m from goal and the young midfielder snuck his a well-placed shot home off the back post as the rally begun.
Victory were allowed possession and chased the game, probing Glory from all angles.

Their momentum stalled with two injuries.

Kenjok Athiu pulled up with an apparent hamstring strain before Georg Niedermeier was knocked out by Liam Reddy in a fair bur fierce collision.

The towering German leapt at a free kick and was clattered by the arriving goalkeeper, requiring replacing.

Victory’s resurgence looked to be flatlining before the Japan international’s perfect corner delivery allowed the Kiwi to score his first Victory goal.

Glory weren’t to be denied, with Ikonomidis scoring a rebound after Chianese broke with speed down the right flank.

While Glory has lift-off under Popovic, the result leaves Victory marooned on the bottom of the A-League table, the only club yet to pick up a point.