A-League 2020: Glory too strong for outclassed Wanderers

Perth Glory have all but ended Western Sydney’s A-League finals’ hopes with a 3-1 win over the Wanderers.

Perth’s Ivan Franjic lays injured after scoring in the Glory’s 3-1 win over Western Sydney Wanderers. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

WESTERN Sydney Wanderers’ hopes of playing finals football are all but over after they were beaten 3-1 by Perth Glory at Bankwest Stadium on Tuesday night.

Needing a win to maintain their late push for an A-League top-six berth, the Wanderers failed to inspire against a Glory side out for redemption after a horrible defensive display in their 5-3 loss to Adelaide United last week.

Fifth-placed Perth’s moved them to within a point of Brisbane Roar, who meet Wellington Phoenix at McDonald Jones Stadium on Wednesday night.

The Wanderers, who have two matches left, remain stranded in ninth spot, four point adrift of sixth-placed Adelaide United.

Western Sydney need a host of results to go their way to have any chance of making the top six.

The Glory’s Bruno Fornaroli (right) is fouled by the Wanderers’ Dylan McGowan. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

The Glory won thanks to goals from Ivan Franjic, skipper Neil Kilkenny and substitute James Meredith.

The Wanderers’ only joy was a 63rd-minute Mitchell Duke goal, which levelled scores at 1-1 after Franjic had put Perth ahead three minutes earlier.

But a Kilkenny penalty in the 78th minute after a Dylan McGowan handball offence and a long-distance Meredith strike eight minutes later sealed the three points for the Glory.

Perth coach Tony Popovic was delighted with his team’s response to their 5-3 loss to Adelaide.

“It was an outstanding performance after the result against Adelaide,” Popovic said.

“The players showed all the confidence and belief which we knew they had in them.”

He said the Glory’s true test came after the Wanderers equalised.

“We actually stood up and took control of the game. It showed again where the players are at,” Popovic said.

“I’m delighted for the players because they thoroughly deserved it.”

Wanderers coach Jean-Paul de Marigny was particularly disappointed with his side’s display after half-time.

“The second half there was only one team in it,” de Marigny said.

“They always looked dangerous, they had a lot of space and we got punished for it.”

De Marigny refused to give up hope of a top-six berth while the Wanderers were still a mathematical chance.

“We’ll keep on going. There are six points there up for grabs We’ll still strive to win our last two games,” he said.

“That’s our responsibility, that’s our job, and we need to continue to do that.”

Earlier, it took 25 minutes for either side to create a chance.

When the opportunity came, it fell for Perth striker Bruno Fornaroli, who was the recipient of a cross from midfielder Kristian Popovic.

Fornaroli’s shot had Wanderers goalkeeper Tristan Prendergast beaten, but the ball hit the post.

The Glory had another chance in the 41st minute when a stray defensive header from the Wanderers fell to the feet of an unmarked Tomislav Mrcela. But the recalled defender sprayed his shot over the crossbar.

Perth appealed for a penalty in the 50th minute when Alex Grant stood up falling Wanderers defender Patrick Ziegler, whose sliding hand stopped the progress of the ball.

But referee Kurt Ams, who had a clear view of the incident, waved play on.

Perth went ahead in the 60th minute through the brave Franjic,

A shot from Glory substitute Jake Brimmer deflected into the path of Franjic, who was on a collision course with the advancing Prendergast..

The former Socceroos fullback got to the ball first, poking it past the Wanderers keeper and into the net before crashing into Prendergast.

It was Franjic’s final contribution of the match as he was forced off with a leg injury as a result him crashing into Prendergast.

The Wanderers hit back three minutes later through skipper Duke who made the most of ordinary defending from Osama Malik to slide the ball home.

But the Glory steadied to claim a deserved victory with late goals from their captain and Meredith.