What a Glorious start! With two wins from two, Perth are setting the Hyundai A-League alight! Get along to nib Stadium and help make it three out of three!
Perth Glory v Wellington Phoenix
Sunday 23rd October, 4:30pm
What a Glorious start! With two wins from two, Perth are setting the Hyundai A-League alight! Get along to nib Stadium and help make it three out of three!
A weekend heavy on derbies is counterbalanced by perhaps the furthest thing possible from a local derby. But, of course, that doesn’t mean it is any less important.
New-look Perth Glory have hit the ground running with a 100 per cent start to the Hyundai A-League 2011/12 season and will be looking to make it a hat-trick of wins against a team that is embarking on one heck of a journey to be nib Stadium.
It’s time once again for The Shed to show guts and glory by creating the kind of atmosphere that will spur your side on to another win. Noise from the stands leads to goals, so sing and shout yourself hoarse as your boys go all out for another three points.
Last weekend, Glory made it two from two with a fine win away to Melbourne Heart at AAMI Park. And it was star striker Shane Smeltz who did the damage, netting once in each half.
His first, a perfect header, was his 50th Hyundai A-League goal in his 79th appearance. Those statistics speak for themselves. His 51st soon followed. Midway through the second-half, the forward curled a beauty from just outside the box and further proved himself to be one of the deadliest attackers in Hyundai A-League history.
Glory will be looking for more of the same from Smeltz as, even though Sunday’s opponents barely have enough players to field a starting eleven, they are proving to be the surprise package of the Hyundai A-League 2011/12 season thus far.
Having been moments away from a fine win on the Gold Coast on the opening weekend, they went one better on home soil last weekend with victory over Newcastle Jets. Goals in each half from Tim Brown and Daniel gave Phoenix an impressive 2-0 victory at the Westpac.
Of course, the New Zealand side don’t like to do anything easily and, not only did they have to overcome the loss of talismanic attacker Paul Ifill to injury early on, but ended the game with just nine men.
Nick Ward was dismissed for a challenge on Ryan Griffiths before Brown received a second yellow in injury time – but will no be available for selection follow the red card being rescinded. Every week, Ricki Herbert seems to have new headaches when it comes to picking his first eleven. He’ll be looking to tap into the transfer market to bolster his threadbare squad.
Meanwhile, Glory’s new signing, former Melbourne Victory and Gold Coast defender Steve Pantelidis, might make his home debut on Sunday. The 28-year-old will bring a wealth of experience to the side’s back-line, having played 105 times in the Hyundai A-League.
With both sides having got off to flying starts, this one is sure to be a cracker. Wellington Phoenix have proved that they are no mugs, so don’t miss your chance to be at the game and help Glory make it a remarkable nine points from nine. Sing to win and go for Glory!
