Adam Taggart has boosted his chances of a Socceroos recall by scoring a second-half brace in Perth Glory’s 2-2 A-League Men draw with the Newcastle Jets at HBF Park.
The Jets looked on track for an easy victory on Saturday night following Clayton Taylor’s 13th-minute strike and a 55th-minute goal to Lucas Mauragis.
But with Socceroos coach Graham Arnold watching on from the stands, Taggart turned the match on its head with goals in the 72nd and 90th minutes.
Glory almost snatched the win in stoppage time, but David Williams’ glancing header struck the crossbar.
Taggart now has 14 goals this season from 18 matches, with his hot form putting him right in the selection mix for the Socceroos’ World Cup qualifiers against Lebanon this month.
Glory only had 33 per cent possession in the first half, and their first shot on target didn’t arrive until the 39th minute when Stefan Colakovkski’s strike was saved by the feet of goalkeepr Ryan Scott.
In contrast, Perth goalkeeper Oliver Sail had a busy first half.
Sail produced diving saves to deny thunderous long-range bullets from Taylor and Thomas Aquilina early in the match.
The dam wall eventually broke in the 40th minute when Taylor expertly chested down in the box before nailing his strike from a tight angle.
Newcastle went 2-0 up in the 55th minute when Mauragis’ powerful strike took a deflection off a Glory defender and thundered into the net.
But the game exploded back to life in the 72nd minute when Taggart pulled a goal back after trapping David Williams’ long ball and nailing his strike.
Adam Taggart celebrates a goal for Perth Glory. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)
Glory thought they had equalised three minutes later when substitute defender Kaelan Majekodunmi thundered home a header.
But the goal was disallowed after referee Lachlan Keevers deemed Jets striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos had been taken down in the lead-up.
Replays appeared to show Stamatelopoulos had clattered into a stationary defender, and Glory players were livid when the goal was rubbed out.
Glory kept pushing, and Taggart levelled the scores approaching stoppage time with a powerful header from a corner.
The draw leaves Glory seven points adrift of sixth-placed Western Sydney, who they host next week.
NickA
Roar Rookie
no room for both Stama & Taggart? Unlikely I guess, between Duke. Yengi, ?Iredale (who scored last week).
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
i like shot put, because easier on technique, discus more timing. Throwing is quite technical, not just strength and power.
Grem
Roar Rookie
AFL and rugby union (I know nothing about that game in terms of rules, playing structures, etc) are probably the only two sports I haven’t attempted to coach – ever. I know you like athletics – coaching discus, shot put, etc are interesting with ensuring students enter and leave from the back! And then there’s the techniques!
Grem
Roar Rookie
AFL and rugby union (I know nothing about that game in terms of rules, playing structures, etc) are probably the only two sports I haven’t attempted to coach – ever. I know you like athletics – coaching discus, shot put, etc are interesting with ensuring students enter and leave from the back! And then there’s the techniques!
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
AFL, although i like it, not easy to adjudicate.
Grem
Roar Rookie
This is just a chat now, not a trying to prove or disprove anything. As a male teacher in the primary school system I am usually organising and coaching sports, which involves district and area meetings. Over the years the problem sports have usually been – any sport where parents are coming in numbers! When rules have been an issue it has been softball, which seems to have the most disputes, probably followed by offside in football. Rugby league, even at primary school level (with not too many teams) has the occasional punch ups following a heavy/sometimes high tackle. AFL is played very little and they usually have the money to have development officers running it, so few issues. Cricket has few issues and rugby union has never been played! I sometimes read other sections and there is often dismay on the rugby union site about how to improve the game and the Wallabies. The answer is simple and difficult at the same time – they just need a lot more participants. In my many years of teaching, I have only taught two boys (brothers) who played the game.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
basic rules I am talking about. I was not much of a footballer, but hardly gave it a go. Mostly played five on five every sunday at park for while.
Grem
Roar Rookie
A basic game that few of us would have the skill to play at a decent level, but I think I understand what you mean.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
i really enjoy the A-League, at least on a par with other sports I watch. The more i have been watching local games, the more I see how good football is and how it is really a pretty basic game with few complex rules. Will i ever devote myself to just one code? hell no, but i am always learning and reconsidering what i like about each code.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Your analysis, as usual, is unbiased and spot on. This is the world game and no game is easy.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Good on you Chris. I understand you like a few different sports, but your positive comments are nice to read. We who watch the A Leagues know it’s not the EPL, but are emotionally invested in it. Keep this up and you may also catch the Matildas’ bug! I know I have. I’m off to Allianz soon to see Sydney v Brisbane – really looking forward to seeing Sydney play. Their press, energy and ball movement has been so good to watch.
Redcap
Roar Guru
Taggart's first goal was an outstanding piece of control and awareness. Just beautifully done. That game really could've gone either way - Newcastle had their chances as well - a draw's seemed about right at the end.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
good fightback by perth, watched 20m highlights this morning. Really enjoy watching A-League.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
We are gonna need all the firepower we can get against a rampart Lebanon side that should beat us in Canberra by a few goals. Best out come would be a narrow 3-2 loss or a fluke draw.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Perhaps Hrujstic will be fit, healthy and ready to play in behind him. Goodwin and Boyle on the wings to get the ball to him as well. He could get a bit of service. I will be interested to see Arnold’s squad for the two games.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Interesting day. Wellington looked unconvincing against City. The bad news for City is Tillio is out for a long while I thought he was reported to be back along with Leckie who had gastro. Caputo looks threatening in the air gave them a different dimension along the ground he could have done better. Jeggo was awful, not even useful in defence. I cant see City without Tillio mounting a late challenge. Victory Adelaide what a match, it looked like every challenge was a yellow, especially Alagich, and Faghani the blind. Fornaroli had 2 golden chances in addition to the tap in and penalty and blew them. If he had got another 4 then it would have Fornaroli back in the Socceroos. What are the odds of another 2-2 draw, more pertinent what are the odds when its 2-0 up on a draw. Stanton to me should be receiving the Corica award this season, in a packed field. With Arnold at the ground was that the reason Newcastle were playing better and full of energy. Apostolos is the big loser he had at least four good chances while 2 of his misses ended up goals he gets none of the credit. Taggart then gets two goals and he will probably get into the Socceroos on that.
Chopper07
Roar Rookie
Taggart is a natural goalscorer and one of the few poachers we have produced. His overall game makes him an asset that Graham Arnold must use.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Taggart is in form and I look forward to seeing him play for the Socceroos against Lebanon at Commbank and again in Canberra. His game has gone to a new level this year with his inspired leadership and the extra involvement during the game.