A-League wrap: Perth win thriller, Mariners go third

A second-half brace from Robbie Fowler re-ignited Perth Glory’s faint finals hopes as they won 4-2 over Adelaide United on Wednesday.

In a see-sawing affair, Perth opened the scoring through Jamie Coyne in the sixth minute before Adelaide equalised against the run of play through early substitute Joe Keenan, who had been on 12 minutes for Paul Reid when he fired home in the 22nd.

The Glory again went ahead through Mile Sterjovski 10 minutes before the break but once again gave up the advantage when Sergio van Dijk levelled in the 50th minute through his 10th goal of the season.

But Adelaide failed maintain the momentum as Cassio narrowly missed with a 67th-minute volley, the Glory going on with the job as a brilliant Adriano Pellegrino through-ball released Fowler one-on-one with Eugene Galekovic, the Liverpool legend making no mistake.

Iain Ramsey missed a gilt-edged chance in the 74th minute when he was released through on goal, Glory stopper Tando Velaphi doing well to partially come off his line and force Ramsey wide, the Adelaide man subsequently shooting over.

The Glory made the Reds pay just three minutes later. Sterjovski was somewhat fortunate to be still on the park after only receiving a yellow when he appeared to kick out at Iain Fyfe in the 55th minute.

And, Adelaide will feel further aggrieved as Sterjovski burst through into the area in the 75th minute, with Nigel Boogaard grabbing hold of the former Socceroo’s shirt as he went to ground.

Boogaard, on the field for just two minutes for Fyfe, was sent on his way and Fowler stepped up to take the spot kick, giving Perth just their second win in 17 games, as the Glory moved off the bottom of the table.

In Wednesday’s other game, Central Coast Mariners cruised to a 1-0 victory in their clash with North Queensland Fury at Bluetongue Stadium.

A first-half goal to Adam Kwasnik was all that was needed to give Graham Arnold’s men their ninth win of the season.

Kwasnik’s emphatic header in the 28th minute was his eighth goal of this A-League campaign, and pushed the Mariners past Gold Coast United on goals scored, and subsequently into third spot on the ladder.