A second-half goal from Howard Fondyke has seen Perth Glory draw 1-1 with Adelaide United in an entertaining National Youth League clash on Friday at ME Bank Stadium.
The Reds looked the better side throughout the first half but only had the one goal to show for it through a close-range header from Francesco Monterosso seven minutes before the break.
The Glory looked more solid in the second half, however, exploiting Ludovic Boi’s pace down the left flank with great effect as the midfielder set-up an equaliser for Fondyke just before the hour.
The result still takes Adelaide to the top of the National Youth League table on goal difference over Sydney FC, while it extends the third-placed Glory’s unbeaten run to three games.
From the outset, Adelaide looked substantially more organised than its opponent, controlling possession with ease but struggling to break through a determined Glory defence led by Steven Hesketh and Brent Griffiths.
Instead it was Perth that enjoyed the best early chance as Ryan Edwards burst through on goal but was harassed off the ball by Michael Doyle as he shaped to shoot.
In the 37th minute, a sensational cross by Adelaide’s Joel Allwright saw Dane Milovanovic force Glory stopper Tim Doyle to tip over the bar from a headed attempt, but Adelaide took the lead from the next play.
Tim Wooding sent in the corner and an unmarked Monterosso sent in a weak downward header that still had enough on it to creep over the line, regardless of a desperate attempted clearance from Hesketh.
Just before the break Edwards caused more problems for Reds goalkeeper Mark Birghitti, sending in a sensational cross from the right that almost curled into goal.
Three minutes before the hour, Monterosso came close to doubling Adelaide’s advantage when he nodded over the bar from a good position. But the Glory countered immediately through an explosive run down the left by Boi, the midfielder crossing for Fondyke to equalise with an emphatic finish.
The Glory had a great chance to take full points in the 90th minute as Adelaide lost possession and striker Million Butshiire was given a free run at goal.
Butshiire squared the ball from the right for substitute Adam Taggart, but instead of slipping it further across to an unmarked Boi, Taggart opted to shoot directly into the defender and the chance went begging.
National Youth League
Perth Glory 1 (Fondyke 57)
Adelaide United 1 (Monterosso 37)
