Perth Glory won 3-1 over Adelaide United at nib Stadium on Sunday, goals from Sciola, Fernandez, and Castro enough to overcome the Reds.
Adelaide dominated possession, but it was Glory who did all the attacking to grab their first win of the Hyundai A-League season.
Fernandez and Castro – who both came under fire for struggling to have an impact in the opening two matches – added their names to the scoresheet in the second half after coming on as substitutes, capitalising on some fine work from Glory captain Richard Garcia.
It was Perth’s second win in five days and third game in eight days, having played last Wednesday in a victorious Westfield FFA Cup semi-final against Melbourne City.
GOALS
1-0 Sidnei Sciola (44’) – Hungarian playmaker Gyorgy Sandor sliced open the sturdy Adelaide defence with a perfect through-ball, leaving Sidnei with only goalkeeper John Hall to beat. The Brazilian made no mistake, calmly slotting the ball past Hall with the easiest of left-foot taps to give them home side the lead on the cusp on half-time.
2-0 Guyon Fernandez (60’) – Glory captain Richard Garcia chased down a wayward pass and sprinted down the left wing before firing in a low cross to second-half substitute Fernandez, who effortlessly chipped the ball into the top left-corner to register his long-awaited first A-League goal.
3-0 Diego Castro (71’) – Garcia again made a brilliant run down the left and fire another low cross into the penalty area, only this time Glory’s Spanish import found himself on the end of his skipper’s good work.
3-1 Diogo Ferreira (75’) – Adelaide managed to pull one back courtesy of an error from the Glory midfielder, who unintentionally knocked Sergio Cirio’s attacking pass from deep into the penalty area into the back of his own net.
KEY MOMENT
Adelaide dominated possession in the first half, but the visitors were unable to grab their chances in front of goal. United’s best chance came in the 27th minute when Mate Dugandzic spotted an unmarked Sergio Cirio about eight yards out. A certain goal loomed had quick-thinking Glory defender Mark Warren not intervened with his body to block the powerful strike.
OPTA DATA KEY STATS
Adelaide dominated possession (69%) in the first half – with 86% passing accuracy – but could only muster one genuine scoring chance. The 2-0 loss also ended United’s nine-match unbeaten streak against the men in purple.
TREATMENT TABLE
Reds playmaker Marcelo Carrusca was the victim of two hard tackles from Glory’s Diogo Ferreira in the first half. Ferreira was booked for the first challenge while the second left Carrusca on the ground holding his left knee for an extended period. The Argentine played on, but was limping noticeably until substituted out in the 86th minute when the result was beyond doubt.
BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD
Adelaide’s high possession game is not translating into scoring opportunities and the only two goals the Reds have to their credit this season have been own goals. United finished the match with 68.8% of total possession, but rarely look threatening when going into attack. Reds coach Guillermo Amor will be hoping Bruce Djite’s impending return from injury opens the goal-scoring floodgates.
THE FINAL WORD
After three games in eight days, a weary Perth Glory will enjoy a seven-day break before next Sunday’s away clash with Western Sydney. Expect imports Guyon Fernandez and Diego Castro to only grow in confidence after opening their A-League accounts in spectacular fashion.
Guillermo Amor’s A-League coaching stint is off to a horror start with two draws and now a loss from the opening three rounds. Next up is another tough challenge against Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
TEAMS
Perth Glory: 1.Ante COVIC (GK), 3.Marc WARREN, 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Gyorgy SANDOR, 10.Nebojsa MARINKOVIC, 11. Richard GARCIA (C, 18.Mitch OXBORROW 83’), 13.Diogo FERREIRA, 14.Chris HAROLD (20.Guyon FERNANDEZ 46’), 16.Sidnei SCIOLA (17.Diego CASTRO), 19.Josh RISDON, 23.Michael THWAITE
Adelaide United: 4.Dylan McGOWAN, 5.Osama MALIK, 7.Pablo SANCHEZ, 8.ISAIAS, 9.Sergio CIRIO, 10.Marcelo CARRUSCA (C, 14.George MELLS 86’), 16.Craig GOODWIN, 17.Mate DUGANDZIC (28.Antoni TRIMBOLI 83’), 18.Jimmy JEGGO, 20.John HALL (GK), 21.Tarek ELRICH
Scorers: Sidnei Sciola (44’), Guyon Fernandez (60’), Diego Castro (71’), Diogo Ferreira (75’ og)
Yellow cards: Diogo Ferreira (22’), Pablo Sanchez (39’)
Red cards: Nil
Conditions: 23C, overcast
Attendance: 7728 at nib Stadium
