Shane Lowry says he’s disappointed Perth Glory have bowed out of the Hyundai A-League Finals Series but is proud of what the club achieved in Season 2015/16.
The curtain came down on Glory’s campaign on Sunday as a Bruno Fornaroli-inspired Melbourne City prevailed 2-0 at AAMI Park.
MATCH REPORT: Fornaroli breaks Glory hearts as City progress
It brings to an end a roller-caster season for Kenny Lowe’s side, who were bottom of the league in January but surged back to finish fifth and were one of the hottest sides in the competition heading into the finals.
“I’m disappointed but I’m still proud of what we achieved this season,” defender Lowry told Fox Sports.
“We came from nowhere…so it’s a little disappointing to go out tonight. So congratulations to Melbourne City, they progress.”
Lowry produced another full-blooded performance in the heart of Glory’s defence, laying on a couple of crunching challenges in the first half.
He was also involved in City’s first goal, when Fornaroli pulled off a stunning bicycle kick just before the break.
With the ball bouncing high in the air, Lowry attempted to head it clear just as the City striker got his foot to the ball to lash it home.
While the goal was allowed to stand by referee Chris Beath, Lowry felt he should have been awarded a free-kick for dangerous play by Fornaroli.
“People will say it’s good attacking play. I’d have to have another look at it …but I was fully upright, I put my head into an area and he’s kicked me in the head,” Lowry said of the incident.
“The rules of the game that’s dangerous play. We’re disappointed with the goal but that’s the way it goes.
“The second one was a great free kick,” he added.
“We probably shouldn’t have given away a free kick around the box. We did it too many times and we didn’t do enough in the first half as well.”
