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Mariners suffer heartbreaking defeat in Perth

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Perth Glory 2 (Keogh 70’ & Taggart 85’) Central Coast Mariners 1 (Brama 15’)

Despite taking an early lead in Western Australia, the Central Coast Mariners have fallen to Perth Glory after Adam Taggart found the back of the net in the 85th minute.

The run down

In a hectic start to the match the Mariners were extremely unlucky not to have the lead after just 40 seconds. Appiah imposed himself on the match from the opening whistle and broke into acres of space before whipping in a perfect ball. The pass found Asdrubal who unfortunately misjudged his run and couldn’t convert his one-on-one chance.

Five minutes later the same combination created the second clear cut opportunity for the Mariners when Appiah broke on the left to again find Asdrubal. This time the Spanish striker controlled the ball and fired a shot from inside the box that deflected for a corner.

As the away side continued to pile on the pressure with several dangerous attacking forays into the Glory area they would only have to wait until the 15th minute before a moment of Brama magic gave them the lead. Brama would go on to claim Man of the Match honours in Perth.

Connor Pain broke free on the left and found the Dutch midfielder just inside the box whose first-time strike gave Liam Reddy no chance to make a save.

But the Mariners opener wouldn’t deter the home side who started to work their way back into the match as half time drew closer.

Glory’s best chance of the half fell in the 33rd minute of play when a dangerous ball flew in from the right wing that found an ensuing Taggart. Taggart had a prime opportunity to level the scores but his strike dribbled wide.

With Perth offering more in the last 15 minutes of the first half, play evened out but the Mariners hit the sheds with a deserved first half lead.

The second half started in the same fashion as the first half with the Mariners imposing themselves on the game early.

Just five minutes in, The Mariners other Dutch midfielder, Tom Hiariej found himself with time and space just outside the box. Hiariej pulled the trigger on a venomous shot that flew just over the crossbar.

The Mariners attacking mindset continued as Pain looked lively on the left and in the 50th minute broke into the box and delivered a sharp cross that was just out of reach for the charging Mariners attackers.

Momentum then shifted slightly towards the home side as the Glory created chances of their own, before Taggart looped a great cross onto the head of Keogh that the Irishman nodded home to lock the scores at 1-1.

Taggart turned from creator to match-winner, finding himself on the end of a long ball over the Mariners back four. In space, Taggart composed himself and converted his one-on-one opportunity that Tom Glover got a hand to, only to deflect into the top corner.

In the final 10 minutes the Mariners continued to pressure the Glory back four, but couldn’t find an equaliser to take home a deserved point.

Full focus now turns to the Mariners Pink Round to be held at Central Coast Stadium next Sunday where they host Melbourne Victory.

Goals

15’ BRAMA GOAL: After some beautiful build up play, Pain found himself with the ball on the left wing. Pain steadied himself before delivering a pin point cross that Brama hit first time, scraping just under the crossbar to give his side the lead.

70’ KEOGH GOAL: After missing a couple of promising chances of his own, Taggart played creator on the right-hand side. His loopy ball found the head of a leaping Keogh who directed his header perfectly in the Mariners’ net to level the scores.

85’ TAGGART GOAL: Taggart broke the hearts of Mariners fans when he converted his one-on-one opportunity to earn three points for his team. He was cool, calm and collected – directing his strike into Glover’s top corner.

Paolo in the press

“We’re very disappointed,” Okon said. “We can’t think that if we continue to give goals away like that, that we’re going to win football games.

“I thought our effort was outstanding, everything we spoke about and worked on during the week came to life in the first 20 minutes and there the moments you need to punish teams and we didn’t do that. A bit like last week.

“At the end, we had about five or six cramping. We had some delays getting in yesterday, the heat was tough, we won’t use any of that as an excuse because I feel like the game could have been over in the first half.

“We congratulate Perth, they sniffed it. They are a very strong team at home.

Pink Round v Melbourne Victory Sunday 29 October 2017

“I’m not going to feel sorry for myself and neither are the players. We’re close. We just need to put 95 minutes together where none of those moments creep in and cost us goals.

“We have to work so hard for our goals, our goals and opportunities come from good football and then we cop two goals on long balls straight down the middle. It’s unacceptable.

“Our approach is no different if we play at home or away and I think everyone saw that today. We certainly deserve points in the way we’re playing but maybe not in the way we have defended in certain moments,” Okon said.

Central Coast Mariners: 18.Tom GLOVER (gk), 2.Storm ROUX, 3.Josh ROSE, 5.Antony GOLEC, 6.Tom HIARIEJ, 9.ASDRUBAL (17.Josh BINGHAM 69’), 10.Danny De SILVA, 11.Connor PAIN (16.Liam ROSE 87’), 13.Kwabena APPIAH (12.Trent BUHAGIAR 67’), 15.Alan BARO, 23.Wout BRAMA

Substitutes not used: 1.Ben KENNEDY, 4.Jake McGING

Yellow cards: Baro 36’, Asdrubal 56’

Perth Glory: 33.Liam REDDY (gk), 4.Shane LOWRY, 8.Xavi TORRES, 9.Andy KEOGH (c), 14.Chris HAROLD (19.Joe KNOWLES 81’), 16.Joseph MILLS (Brimmer 65’), 17.Diego CASTRO, 18.Andreu (15.Brandon WILSON 65’) GUERAO, 20.Jake BRIMMER, 22.Adam TAGGART, 23.Scott NEVILLE, 29.Jeremy WALKER

Substitutes not used: 13.Nick FEELY (GK), 5.Jacob POSCOLIERO,

Yellow cards: Neville 44’

Sunday, 22 October 2017
nib Stadium, Perth
Perth Glory vs. Central Coast Mariners

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