Perth Glory coach Kenny Lowe feels his side’s hard-earned, come-from-behind 1-1 draw against Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium on Sunday could prove a turning point for his side which has staggered in recent weeks.
Lowe’s men were completely outplayed early and were fortunate to go into the sheds at half-time with only a one-goal deficit before hitting back hard in a character-filled second half.
Glory equalised through a magnificent Nebojsa Marinkovic strike and generally matched the Reds in every department.
Result: Adelaide United 1 Perth Glory 1
Despite United having the better of the contest as a whole, Lowe believes a share of the points was a just result, enabling Perth to remain top of the A-League table.
“As the season progresses you might look back on a result like this and think it could have been the turning point or nick you over the line for something.
“We’re pleased – we would have taken that (draw) before we came (here).
“We normally get beat here. It’s a tough place to come – they’re a super team and they play some great football.
“We’ll pick up the paper tomorrow and it will say 1-1.
“I can see why he (United coach Josep Gombau) might be a bit upset, but in the second half we created enough chances to win it. That’s the nature of it.
“We hung in there and got something out of it.
“I think it (result) was deserved.”
The equaliser came in spectacular style courtesy of Serbian marquee midfielder Nebojsa Marinkovic, who launched a trademark long-range peach from outside the box which rocketed past Reds keeper Eugene Galekovic and slammed into the top corner.
“That was magnificent,” Lowe enthused.
“You wont see many better goals – it was super.
“He killed a couple of redbacks in the top corner (of the net).”
Lowe paid tribute to the character of his players, who refused to drop their heads despite such a poor opening half and refused to buy into the statistical hoodoo that suggested a fourth loss to Adelaide this season from four attempts loomed.
“It’s a tough place to come – I think they (Adelaide) like playing against us,” Lowe said with a relieved laugh.
“I think they actually enjoy it, (and think) ‘Perth, ‘great, another three points’ … I don’t sleep at night sometimes.
“We know what we’ve got in our dressing room.
“At half-time they (players) weren’t down. There was a lot of optimism there because they know really it might have possibly should be more than one (deficit).
“But at one (down), you’ve got a chance; there’s always hope.
“I think we showed in the second half we don’t need much hope to hang in there and get something out of the game.”
