Adelaide United 2-0 Perth Glory: Glory in freefall

Photos (Top to Bottom): Travis Dodd came on at half-time, took over the captain's armband from Lucas Pantelis, and changed the course of the match; Former Adelaide coach John Kosmina was critical of current coach Rini Coolen in the press this week for playing Matthew Leckie against Melbourne Victory while he was injured Leckie sustained further injury against Melbourne and is unavailable for up to two months. [PlessPix]

Adelaide United 2-0 Perth Glory

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Perth Glory are in freefall. They have now gone10 games without a win.

They have slumped to 8th spot on the A-League ladder after this 2-0 away loss to second-placed Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium last night and it seems no matter what changes coach Ian Ferguson makes, nothing succeeds.

Perth started like a house on fire and were aided by Adelaide’s propensity to give the ball away needlessly in their own half.

The visitors had a good chance in only the 3rd minute when Steven McGarry’s shot was deflected off Adelaide defender Fabian Barbiero and the ball landed on the roof of Eugene Galekovic’s net.

In the 6th minute, Naum Sekulovski fired straight at Galekovic from distance.

Adelaide’s first chance did not come until the 38th minute when Cassio robbed Jamie Harnwell in midfield and fed Paul Reid, but his strike was deflected over the bar for a fruitless corner.

The turning point in the match came with the introduction of Travis Dodd by Adelaide at the interval in place of Joseph Keenan.

Perth were still dangerous, however, and Galekovic had to produce a wonderful save from Robbie Fowler 6 minutes into the second period.

But, Dodd’s presence seemed to inspire Cassio into action and the left-back produced two great runs and excellent crosses in the 53rd and 55th minutes, respectively. Dodd headed the first onto the roof of the net, while Sergio Van Dijk missed the second and a defender nodded it out for a corner.

Adelaide’s task was made easier in the 63rd minute when Sekulovski was shown his second yellow card and sent off. It was not a good way to celebrate his 100th A-League match.

A minute later, a free-kick stemming from the incident that led to Sekulovski’s expulsion, was taken by Lucas Pantelis and headed home by Iain Fyfe to put the home side in front.

In the 67th minute, Fowler was dispossessed in midfield and Paul Reid made a forward run, but he shot wide to let the visitors off the hook.

Perth continued to create chances as they fought to get back into the match, but their shooting let them down. In the 74th minute, Todd Howarth was just wide of the far post with his shot.

Adelaide lifted a gear in the closing minutes and Perth were again on the back foot.

In the 89th minute, Reid passed wide to Dodd on the right, but the Adelaide captain squandered an excellent chance by firing over the bar.

A minute later, Dodd became the provider when he set up Pantelis, but he also blazed a marvellous chance over the bar.

Seconds later, Dodd won a one-on-one tackle against Perth keeper Tando Velaphi, but, incredibly, played the ball wide of an open goal.

A minute into stoppage time, Cassio made another surging run down the left and his inch-perfect cross provide Van Dijk with his 6th goal of the season from a diving header to make him the A-League’s leading marksman.

The win leaves Adelaide just one point behind leaders Brisbane Roar.

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Adelaide United: Galekovic - Barbieri, Cornthwaite, Fyfe, Cassio - Hughes, Reid - Keenan (Dodd 46), Flores (Ramsay 75), Pantelis - Van Dijk [Substitutes not used: Watson, Birighitti]

Booked: Flores, Reid

Goals: Fyfe 64, Van Dijk 90+1

Perth Glory: Velaphi - Neville, Todd, Harnwell, Sekulovski - Pellegrino, Coyne, McGarry (Fondyke 82), Howarth (Griffiths 82) - Fowler, Baird (Amphlett 70) [Substitute not used: Vrteski]

Booked: Todd, Pellegrino, Sekulovski, McGarry, Griffiths

Sent off: Sekulovski

Att: 10,023

Ref: R Shepheard