A second-half goal from Irish import Billy Mehmet has helped Perth Glory open their Hyundai A-League season with a 1-0 victory over Adelaide United at nib Stadium on Sunday evening.
A second-half goal from Irish import Billy Mehmet has helped Perth Glory open their Hyundai A-League season with a 1-0 victory over Adelaide United at nib Stadium on Sunday evening.
Having dominated the encounter throughout the first half, the Glory were forced on the backfoot throughout the second as the Reds upped the ante.
But Ian Ferguson’s new-look side still had enough in the tank to find Mehmet 13 minutes from time, the Irish import nodding the ball home to help Glory win their opening fixture of the season for the first time since the Hyundai A-League’s began.
Along with scoring the goal, Mehmet impressed with his defensive work-rate, although his efforts were still outshone by diminutive Brazilian Andrezhinho, who proved himself an immediate crowd favourite through an explosive opening half.
Andrezhinho was causing problems as early as the 10th minute, drawing a foul on the left flank that allowed Liam Miller to pinpoint Travis Dodd five metres from goal, with the former Adelaide skipper swivelling and shooting narrowly wide.
Boasting an electric turn of foot, the 26-year-old Brazilian terrorised the unfortunate Daniel Mullen down the left flank, continually taking on the Reds’ defence with his lightning runs.
In the 15th minute he cut inside Mullen to supply Mehmet, who swung the ball over the bar, while three minutes later his efforts created Perth’s best chance of the half.
Cutting inside the defender once again, Andrezinho’s cross from the left flew across the face of goal just half a metre out, but Shane Smeltz, who did well to make the ground, scuffed a sliding effort horribly wide of the far post.
Perhaps made to do too much chasing, the unfortunate Mullen was withdrawn in the 25th minute with a hamstring injury, meaning Cameron Watson was given the thankless task of minding Andrezhino.
It didn’t make any difference to the Reds, however, as they struggled to take the ball past the halfway line and hardly troubled Glory goalkeeper Danny Vukovic in any meaningful way throughout the first 45.
In the 28th minute, Reds midfielder Zenon Caravella handballed near the left-hand edge of the box, allowing Miller to curl in a free kick that was narrowly wide of the far post.
And, the trend continued as the half wore on as both Smeltz and then Miller shot good chances wide of the upright following moves that also involved Andrezinho.
The teams appeared to change jumpers at half-time, however, such was Adelaide’s dominance of the early exchanges in the second period.
In the 50th minute Vukovic was forced into his first save as he went down low to save a tricky free kick from Sergio van Dijk. The free kick was actually re-taken, though due to encroachment from the Glory wall, giving van Dijk another chance that he fired wide.
Three minutes later a clever glancing header from Bruce Djite released van Dijk through on goal but Josh Mitchell did well to stick his boot in and deny him a shot.
Galekovic was forced into action in the 54th minute as blocked a one-on-one with a charging Smeltz before Adelaide came close to scoring on the hour as Todd Howarth’s timely boot denied Djite on the line.
With Travis Dodd and Andrezinho tiring, Glory coach Ian Ferguson replaced them with Steven McGarry and Tommy Amphlett respectively, with speedy striker Amphlett coming onto the right flank.
It proved a winning move however as Amphlett was instrumental in setting up Perth’s only goal 13 minutes from time.
Just minutes after Smeltz was denied what appeared a clear penalty for a handball against Jon McKain, the Glory re-grouped and attacked down the right as Scott Neville released Amphlett.
Powering forward, Amphlett fired in a quality corner that allowed Memhmet to bustle his way through the defence and glance the ball into the back of the net with a well-taken header.
The Irish import almost added a second a minute from time as he ran through on goal for a one-on-one with Galekovic.
But the Reds goalkeeper did superbly well, diving to his right to palm Mehmet’s low shot narrowly around the post.
Perth Glory 1 Mehmet 77
Adelaide United 0
Crowd: 9452 at nib Stadium, Perth
