Perth advances to A-League grand final after defeating Adelaide United in tense penalty shootout

A season of stunning highs, sobering lows and off-pitch drama has ended in a heartbreaking penalty shootout loss for Adelaide United, just one step short of an A-League grand final berth.

Reds players huddle after the team’s defeat during the A-League semi final match to Perth Glory in Perth. Photo: Will Russell/Getty Images

A season of stunning highs, sobering lows and off-pitch drama has ended in a heartbreaking penalty shootout loss for Adelaide United, just one step short of a grand final.

The Reds battled bravely, coming from behind twice to equalise and earn a 3-3 draw after extra-time against Perth Glory in Friday night’s dramatic semi-final at Perth Oval.

But United went down 5-4 on spot kicks as Liam Reddy saved from Nathan Konstandopoulos in sudden death and Joel Chianese slotted home for the hosts.

Reds goalkeeper Paul Izzo had made stops from Diego Castro, Jason Davidson and Shane Lowry in an incredible shootout.

Reddy also kept out captain Isaias, Baba Diawara and Nikola Mileusnic from 12 yards.

It was enough to sink the gallant United, which had to deal with 120 minutes of playoff action for the second time in just six days.

The reverse also signalled the end of coach Marco Kurz’s two-year reign, two months after he was informed his contract would not be renewed for next campaign.

Perth’s Juande celebrates after scoring the winning goal. Photo: Will Russell/Getty Images

Michael Marrone’s 115th minute header brought Adelaide back from the dead after Scott Neville had appeared to seal the host’s progress in the first additional period of play.

Earlier a brilliant Castro brace had given Glory a two-goal advantage with just over a quarter of an hour left in regulation time.

But substitute Diawara pulled one back for Adelaide with nine minutes left on the clock, before Ryan Kitto lashed in an equaliser with the last kick of stoppage time.

It was a sad ending to a rollercoaster campaign for the FFA Cup winner, which went five matches without a win at one stage and battled a lengthy injury list for most of a season.

Adelaide also lost forward Ken Ilso for an alleged doping violation in March.

The Reds started the first half brightly, causing problems with their early through balls as their quick runners caught out the Glory’s high defensive line on several occasions.

But they fell behind thanks to a piece of Castro magic in the 29th-minute.

Ivan Franjic played the ball inside to the Spaniard, who exchanged a slick one-two with Chirs Ikonomidis via a sublime flick.

The Perth skipper steadied, before feinting left and slotting inside Izzo’s near post.

It was tough on the visitors, who had a powerful Konstandopoulos effort deflected wide and a George Blackwood header collected by Reddy in the opening exchanges.

But they had a lucky escape after a quarter of an hour.

Adelaide’s Paul Izzo reacts after saving a penalty from Diego Castro during extra time. Photo: Will Russell/Getty Images

Dino Djulbic headed powerfully from Davidson’s centre and Izzo did well to tip the ball on to the bar before it bounced on the goal line and into the custodian’s arms.

Konstandopoulos, brought in for winger Mileusnic to add an extra body in midfield, was inches away from converting Craig Goodwin’s menacing centre in the six-yard box.

United then needed a strong Izzo hand to push Franjic’s angled drive around the post just before the break.

Diawara replaced George Blackwood on the hour as Kurz looked for the spark the Senegalese striker provided setting up last week’s elimination final winner against Melbourne City.

Instead the home side doubled its lead with 16 minutes left in regulation time.

Castro showed composure to cut inside after being fed by Ikonomidis and steer a clever finish past Izzo via a slight deflection off Scott Galloway.

But Adelaide demonstrated the fighting spirit which had typified its late-season form reversal.

Goodwin’s corner from the left was not dealt with by the Glory defence and Marrone’s dink goalwards fell to Diawara to smash in from close range.

It got even better for United in the fourth and final minute of added time.

Adelaide’s Scott Galloway controls the ball under pressure from Diego Castro. Photo: Will Russell/Getty Images

Another Goodwin corner was returned to the winger who recycled it back into the mixer.

The ball was headed clear to Kitto and the wide man controlled, then unleashed an unstoppable strike through a forest of Perth bodies to send the travelling Reds fans into raptures.

United threatened on the break in the opening period of additional play, but was undone in the 104th minute.

Ben Halloran turned the ball over on halfway and Glory showed patience to shift it wide to Davidson.

The Socceroos full back clipped a cross to the back post, where Neville headed past the despairing Izzo.

But Kitto produced a gem of a delivery after half-time in extra-time and Marrone, who had shifted from centre back to right back, nodded in another leveller.

Goodwin, Jordan Elsey, Vince Lia and Halloran scored for United in the shootout and Juande, Brendon Santalab and Jake Brimmer hit the net for Perth.

But a string of misses for both sides ended in devastation for the Reds.