WA lockdown plunges Perth Glory into unknown

Perth Glory are facing a series of unknowns after much of Perth was plunged into lockdown.

Perth Glory’s Nick D'Agostino, second from left, celebrates after scoring a goal against Melbourne City at AAMI Park

Perth Glory are facing a series of unknowns after much of Perth was plunged into lockdown.

The five-day lockdown could create a series of obstacles for much of Perth’s sporting teams as they face the threat of further border closures.

This may throw the A-League fixture into disarray and especially for the Glory who are coming to the end of their cross-country voyage.

Head coach Richard Garcia said it had an effect but told his players to focus on the tangibles instead of intangibles as the overcame Melbourne City 3-1 at AAMI Park.

“We found out just before,” Garcia said.

“It did have an effect but we as a group focused on what we can control and the game is what we can… that has been the focus since we started the season.”

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Daniel Stynes and Dane Ingham struck either side of a Jamie Maclaren equaliser before Nick D’Agostino’s late header sealed a much-needed three points for the Glory.

The win comes after playing their fourth game in 12 days and their third straight across the Nullabor in Victoria.

Much of Garcia’s squad have had opportunities in the XI as the side has battled fatigue with two of those coming in highly taxing affairs against Western United and Melbourne Victory.

“You’re always looking at how they are pulling up at training,” Garcia said.

“We really haven’t had that option; this week has been a bit longer to be able to gauge how people are travelling but it has been fine – it’s part and parcel in the job.”

Perth are expected to head to South Australia for their next contest against Adelaide United this coming Friday before they’re scheduled to head home to take on the Victory a week after.

Melbourne City head-coach Patrick Kisnorbo was disappointed with how the game panned out as his side faded away after a very bright start.

“I thought in the second-half we were very flat,” Kisnorbo said.

“We started well, created a few chances and obviously we scored one of them but I thought overall we were a bit flat tonight.”

Kisnorbo was ultimately disappointed with the result as he felt his side “defeated themselves” while being made to pay due to Perth taking advantage of their limited chances.

“I think they (Perth) didn’t really create anything,” Kisnorbo said.

“It’s maybe our lack of concentration which put them in the game and then give them the lead that’s what is most disappointing,

“I thought we should have done better on the set-pieces and the first goal.”

Melbourne City head to Gosford next to take on the Central Coast Mariners before continuing their New South Wales road-trip against the Newcastle Jets and Western Sydney Wanderers.

Despite City’s early dominance, it was Perth who took the lead first through Stynes’ long-range effort deflected off the back of Carlo Armiento leaving Tom Glover rooted to the spot.

City’s push for an equaliser was thwarted time and time again by the woodwork but after Craig Noone hit the post, Maclaren was quickest to react to finally slot home the equaliser.

On the brink of halftime, the Glory once again found the lead after Ingham latched onto Neil Kilkenny’s free-kick to nod the ball home.

Originally, the goal was deemed offside but VAR intervened overturning the original decision.

City’s attacking forays were few and far between in the second stanza struggling to break down a resolute Glory team for much of the second-half.

Perth’s strong defensive performance was rewarded as D’Agostino sealed the points with a looping header, getting onto the end of yet another Kilkenny free-kick.

In the aftermath of D’Agostino’s goal, a plastic bottle was seen to be thrown onto the pitch at former City player Bruno Fornaroli who was seen protesting to the referee with a bottle in hand.

It was a tale of two halves for Melbourne City.

After two weeks between games, City looked fresh out of the gates and should have scored more than the solitary first-half goal.

Naoki Tsubaki was superb in the opening-half but was subbed early in the second coinciding with City being unable to will their way back into the game.

The A-League and VAR has always been a controversial match with its use coming under question ever since its implementation.

However, on this occasion, VAR was spot-on correctly overturning the referee’s decision to determine Ingham’s goal as offside.

Perth’s Bruno Fornaroli is challenged Kerrin Stokes of Melbourne City at AAMI Park

Only a day before VAR caught the ire of Western United manager Mark Rudan for “ruining” the game but on Sunday night it showed when utilised correctly it can benefit instead of a hindrance.

Only hours before Perth took to the field against City, Western Australia entered a five-day lockdown.

The lockdown creates doubt about the immediate A-League fixture and means Perth may have to extend their cross-country road-trip due to the threat of border closures.

They face Adelaide in South Australia on February 5 before hopefully returning home to host Melbourne Victory on the 13th.

NCA Newswire