Perth Glory manager Alistair Edwards says he is still holding out hope of a finals appearance after his team’s 2-1 win over a 10-man Sydney FC at nib Stadium.
Perth Glory manager Alistair Edwards says he is still holding out hope of a finals appearance after his team’s 2-1 win over a 10-man Sydney FC at nib Stadium on Saturday night.
The Glory now sit three points outside of sixth place on the Hyundai A-League table, occupied by Brisbane Roar on 28 points.
Melbourne Heart (27 points) and Sydney (27) sit in seventh and eighth respectively.
When asked if he thought the Glory could still make into sixth position and play finals, Edwards said: “Absolutely.”
“I always said it was going to come down to the last game.
“It’s not only about results, results are a given. We’re out there to try and win the game.
“To me and our ethos around the club, it’s results and performance.
“Generally, if the performance matches what we’re trying to do, the results will follow and it’s part of a process.”
Perth took the lead through Chris Harold in the 19th minute when he blasted home the opener past Vedran Janjetovic.
But the Sky Blues responded through marquee man Alessandro Del Piero with a 30-yard wonder strike.
Kiwi international Shane Smeltz then regained Perth’s lead with a classy side-footed finish to a Scott Jamieson cross.
Edwards had said in the lead-up to the match that his team would try and starve Del Piero of possession, but conceded after the match it was easier said than done.
“I think it was going reasonably well until he got the ball and smacked it into the top corner,” he said.
“It was a world class goal. I was on the bench and I even enjoyed it.
“There’s nothing you can do about those types of goals except maybe close him down a bit quicker.
“It just shows you that he’s a quality player.”
Perth Glory had 55 percent of the possession and 14 shots to Sydney’s 10, but Edwards said he was only pleased with parts of the performance.
“Pleased to get the three points. It keeps us with our slim hopes of making the finals,” he said.
“At times I thought we played some really good attacking brand of football. We’re looking to do that for the whole 90 minutes, but that’s a work in progress.”
