Perth Glory’s Billy Mehmet says he’s delighted to have scored on debut for his new side in their season-opening 1-0 win over Adelaide United.
Perth Glory’s Billy Mehmet says he’s delighted to have scored on debut for his new side in their season-opening 1-0 win over Adelaide United.
Mehmet made himself an instant crowd favourite at nib Stadium through his 77th-minute header as he glanced the ball into the back of the net and made a beeline to Glory fans in the Shed to celebrate.
But the towering Irishman, who also has Turkish Cypriot heritage, believes the Glory can only get better after they fluffed several chances during a dominant opening half.
“Obviously to get the goal, 1-0, and to score I was delighted for the side and I’m happy,” said Mehmet.
“(But) we should have been four or five up obviously at half time.”
“We’d played really well and we could have scored a lot more goals.”
Mehmet said he was glad to have repaid the faith shown in him by Glory coach Ian Ferguson.
Ferguson had instantly signed up the striker, who once plied his trade at Scotland’s St Mirren and Dunfermline before an unhappy move to Turkey, after it became clear that a trial at Wellington Phoenix wasn’t going to be successful.
“Obviously you want to go out there and do as good as you can for the manager who signs you,” he said.
“So obviously to get the goal I was delighted with that, but I mean the whole team performance was brilliant for 90 minutes and we created loads of chances and we could have won it by a lot more.”
Ferguson said the club received a lucky break with Mehmet’s signing.
“I found out actually when I was in South Africa (on a pre-season tour) that he was actually training with the Wellington Phoenix and if id known he’d been available I would have contacted him,” said Ferguson.
“It was only through luck … that we found out and then I heard that he got released and as soon as he got released we asked him to come over.”
“That’s what you get from Billy, I’ve seen him over the years and I know of him and I knew that’s the sort of work ethic you get,” Ferguson added, referring to the fact Mehmet worked tirelessly to track back into defence and clear Adelaide’s long balls forward.
“He’s a good balance for Smeltzy (Shane Smeltz) you know.”
“Smeltzy’s not that big physical player, (but Mehmet’s) big and physical, as you seen today. He’s got good feet for a big player, a big man and he created a few problems for them.”
