Roar Guru
It was a busy game early as Wellington Phoenix defeated Perth Glory 2-1 to claim their first win of the 2015-16 A-League season.
Gyorgy Sandor scored Perth’s first and only goal in the seventh minute, before the Phoenix repsonded with a goal through Roy Krishna just two minutes later.
However, Wellington’s Vince Lia scored a second goal for the side in the 89th minute, giving them the win.
Final Score:
Perth Glory 1
Wellington Phoenix 2
We head to Perth for the final game in the second week of the 2015-16 A-League season and with both sides will be looking to earn their first points of the season after losing during the opening weekend. Join The Roar from 7.00pm (AEDT) for live scores, updates and debate in our live blog.
Last week Glory were outplayed by this season’s wooden spoon favourites, the Mariners, and Wellington were beaten by a 10-man Jets outfit at the Cake Tin.
With the shadow of last year’s salary cap breach still hanging over the Glory, Kenny Lowe’s men will be looking to give the home fans something to cheer about in their first outing at NIB Stadium.
Lowe has had to rebuild his squad and newcomers Diego Castro, Gyorgy Sandor and Guyon Fernandez showed glimpses they may just fill the void of departed stars Andy Keogh and Jamie McLaren.
With the support of Castro, Sandor and Fernandez, Perth will be looking to capture the same form that has seen them score in 16 of their last 17 matches played at home in the A-League and they’ll have plenty of support from young speedster, Chris Harold.
Harold conceded during the week he needs to repay the Perth faithful, telling reporters, “It’s probably about time I stepped up and cemented myself in the starting eleven every week. I want to be creating and scoring more goals… I think I have the capability to do that.”
Goals weren’t a concern for Nix coach Ernie Merrick last season but he’ll need his front men to step up following the departure of Socceroo Nathan Burns during the off-season.
Roy Krishna looked the man most likely last week but he failed to convert from the spot and Blake Powell looked a step off the pace in his A-League return. However, Merrick will likely give the duo another week to find their feet following news during the week he’s signed young Australian defender Dylan Fox.
History suggests there will be goals in this one with neither side maintaining a clean sheet in their last seven league encounters.
The punters have backed the Glory in as favourites for this one and I can’t see the visitors upsetting Lowe’s men this week as they search for their first three points of the season.
It may only be the second round, but both sides will be eager to break their points duck and earn bragging rights in the first leg of the Long Distance Derby when they meet in Perth to close out the second week of the A-League.
Join The Roar from 7.00pm (AEDT) for live scores, updates and debate in our live blog.