Glory bounce back to down Victory

Perth Glory bounced back from last weeks 4-0 drubbing at Central Coast to topple league leaders Melbourne Victory 2-1 at the Members Equity Stadium.

Glory coach Steve McMahon made three changes to the starting line up with Australian under 23-representative Nick Ward replacing Billy Celeski, crowd favourite Matt Horsley replacing the injured Jamie Coyne and Simon Colosimo replacing Steve McMahon Jnr. The Victory brought back Andy Vlahos from injury was the only change in their line-up.

The game was delayed as Damian Mori was asked to remove his wedding ring by referee Mark Shield and he couldn't, despite everyone's efforts on the Glory bench. McMahon was livid and wouldn't leave the pitch, but Shields wouldn't allow him back on the pitch even with it covered.

The game began seven minutes late with the Glory playing with only 10 men. The Glory made a change bringing Brian Deane on to replace Mori after five minutes, much to the amazement of the Glory faithful.

The Glory didn't let the off field fracas get to them and took the game to the Victory, with Adrian Caceres and Hiroyuki Ishida causing problems down the flanks and the partnership of Colosimo and Ward running the midfield. Bobby Despotovski went close early when he fired wide after great work from Caceres.

But the Glory deservedly went in front on the 22nd minute, after a period of constant pressure Ishida found Ward wide on the left. His cross-found Caceres at the back post, he headed back across the goal and Deane pounced to head home his first A-League goal for the Glory.

The impressive Ward was enjoying his first league start and with Colosimo put the Victory under great pressure but the Glory couldn't add to their score with Deane, Caceres and Ishida all going close. The Victory had showed very little as an attacking unit with Archie Thompson and Daniel Allsopp well held by Ante Kovacevic and Jamie Harnwell.

But a great ball from Andy Vlahos played in Allsopp who out paced Horsley, but Petkovic was out quick to block the shot. The Victory were level in the 39th minute the Glory gifting the visitors the equaliser, Harnwell's back pass to Jason Petkovic was poor and it let in Thompson.

The Australian International pounced and finished superbly past a stranded keeper. It was the first shot in anger by the Victory and it made the half time score 1-1. Goal scorer Deane was replaced at half time by Naum Sekulovski and Glory continued to take the game to the league leaders.

Sekulovski pace was causing problems to the Victory defence and he shot wide in the 50th minute after good work from Despotovski. But the Glory regained the lead in the 55th minute, Adrian Leijer back pass to keeper Eugene Galekovic was short and Sekulovski chased the ball down and as the keeper tried to clear it rebounded of the Glory striker and rolled into the empty goal much to the delight of the Shed.

But referee Shields wasn't sure and spoke to his assistant before confirming the goal and on replay it looked like the ball had hit Sekulovski hand. The Victory had to lift but they struggled to break down the Glory's defence and only long-range shots from Allsopp to show for their effort.

A great turn by Thompson on the edge of the box took him clear of Scott Miller but his cross shot came to nothing. The Glory was guilty of playing too deep and this let the Victory to begin to dominate and the Glory were hitting on the counter attack.

Colosimo was superb and held the side together, winning the 50-50 balls in the middle of the park, and playing his best game for the Glory for the season. The game became more physical as the Victory looked for the equaliser and Shields showed yellow cards to Kevin Muscat and keeper Galekovic who was lucky not to get sent off after he brought down Sekulovski on the edge of the box.

From the free kick the Glory almost made it 3-1 when Despotovski's free kick deflected of the wall and hit the post and bounced clear. A great 2-1 victory to the Glory and after the game the coach Steve McMahon went to every Glory player and congratulated them, showing a side we haven't seen as the Glory coach.

Victory boss Ernie Merrick had no complaints about the defeat.

"I thought Perth played very well. They outplayed us on the day, and I thought they were up for it," he said.

"I think our boys realise what it's like to briefly be at the top of the league, and everyone wants to knock you off. They (Perth) were highly motivated."

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