Soccer

Glory Secure Finals Birth With 3-1 Win

Sunday 31st January 2010

Author: LMSC

Photographer: PSPWA / Matt Greenfield

Three first half goals have propelled Perth Glory up the A-League ladder, all but securing them a debut A-League finals appearance in a dominant performance against the Central Coast Mariners on Sunday afternoon.

Ironically it was new Glory recruit Daniel McBreen who was the hero, his double helping Perth to a 3-1 victory at ME Bank Stadium that sees the Glory finish the round in fourth spot.

McBreen, who is on short term deal with Perth, is set to join the Mariners next season, with coach Lawrie McKinna seeing the man who will spearhead his side’s attack next campaign effectively destroy this season’s finals hopes.

Andrija Jukic bagged the third for the home side, his first senior goal for the club in what was a first half rout for the home side.

With Perth now six points clear of seventh placed Brisbane, coach Dave Mitchell thinks his side has done enough to secure a maiden finals birth

“I think it would be a Houdini act if they (Brisbane) got in from here,” said Mitchel lafter the game.

“I think once we cement ourselves (in the six) we’ll go for fourth spot and if we get it, no one will want to place us that’s for sure.”

The win was even more impressive given first choice keeper Tando Velaphi, skipper Jacob Burns and marquee striker Mile Sterjovski were all unavailable through injury.

“It’s a credit to Tony Sage. He said what do you need to make the squad better and we’ve gone out and targeted certain players,” Mitchell said.

“I think the depth we now have in the squad is the best it’s been since I’ve been coach.”

Aleks Vrteski deputised for Velaphi between the posts, while Adriano Pellegrino got the nod to partner Steve McGarry in the midfield engine room and Scott Neville was given the opportunity to utilise his pace down the right flank.

Any concerns that the forced changes might disrupt the home side were dismissed within 48 seconds of the start as Daniel McBreen continued his fine run of form by opening the scoring with a goal that was a testament to his persistence and tenacity.

A long ball from the back looked like a lost cause as it fell at the feet of Mariners defender Chris Doig, but the former Northampton man stumbled under McBreen’s pressure and Glory’s new recruit needed no second invitation to nip in and clip the ball past the stranded Danny Vukovic.

The visitors were visibly rattled by the early goal, but clearly remained in a generous mood as they gifted the home side another goal some twelve minutes later. This time it was Andrew Clark who was caught in possession deep in his own box by Scott Neville who calmly delayed his square ball across the box until McBreen arrived and side-footed home his fourth goal in four games.

The Glory’s third score came in injury time just before the break. A Todd Howarth corner picked out Andy Todd, the Englishman volleying goalward where Andrija Jukic produced a glancing header that wrong-footed Vukovic and earned the in-form midfielder his first ever senior goal.

The Mariners did managed to get one back, 4 minutes into the second half substitute Adam Kwasnik reduced the arrears scrambling the ball home from close range after Nik Mrdja had headed Brad Porter’s cross against the post.

Perth now travel east next weekend to take on third placed Sydney before heading home for their final game of the season against Brisbane at ME Bank Stadium.