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Glory score comeback win over Adelaide

3 minute read

Adelaide United ran out of puff after three games in six days, Perth Glory bagging two late goals to score a 2-1 A-League win.

CRAIG GOODWIN.
CRAIG GOODWIN. Picture: James Elsby/Getty Images

Perth Glory have made it four wins from as many starts as their A-League finals charge continued to gather momentum with a 2-1 win over Adelaide United.

The Glory put down the accelerator just as United ran out of petrol, the home side scoring two goals in the final 15 minutes at HBF Stadium to snatch the victory on Wednesday.

Playing their third game in six days, United dominated for much of the first half.

Their goal came in the 28th minute when Louis D'Arrigo lofted a superb ball from the right wing to drop perfectly for Kusini Yengi.

The striker outmuscled defender Darryl Lachman, getting enough contact to the ball to make it 1-0 before winding up the Glory fan base with some interpretive dance behind the goal.

Glory were badly exposed on the wings as Craig Goodwin kept finding space but a second goal never eventuated.

In the second half they paid the price for their wastefulness.

The introduction of Diego Castro for the Glory after the break changed the complexion of the game as United began to visibly tire.

Providing a huge amount of energy, he set up two quick chances early in the half before Bruno Fornaroli and Chris Ikonomidis added the goals later in the period.

Ikonomidis was provider first of all for Fornaroli who beat two defenders to head past keeper James Delianov for the 78th minute equaliser.

Osama Malik almost made it 2-0 just minutes later when he got plenty of head on a Castro delivery only to pull it wide.

But coming home with a head of steam, the clinching goal appeared inevitable and it was eventually delivered in the 86th minute when Fornaroli and Ikonomidis swapped roles.

This time Fornoraoli turned provider, Ikonomidis's shot taking a deflection before going past Delianov.

The win sets up the Glory nicely for a serious finals tilt with four games left.

They move to eighth but, crucially, are on the same number of points (31) as sixth-placed Brisbane Roar, while Adelaide are fourth on 35 points.

After a brutal knee injury that kept him out of the game for more than a year, 12-cap Socceroo Ikonomidis has been in superb form since returning in April.

He said that the increased games schedule, due to the impact of COVID-19, was demanding on his body but he felt he was coping well.

Yet the 26-year-old midfielder remained coy about a possible recall to the Socceroos for World Cup qualifiers next month.

"I'm always in constant touch with the (national) set up ... (but) it's all still a bit of mystery, " he told Fox Sports.

"I'm just really focused on each game because they are coming thick and fast."

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