Glory v Knights

Playoff report by David Arnold
Perth Glory v Melbourne Knights


Brilliant game. It definitely comes alive at finals series. Ozfootball's incomprehensible ability to rise from the dead was proven again last night.

The Knights went up 2-0 with a couple of similar quickfire goals. Lapansky hit a hard low freekick which Marth nodded down and Cervinski finished off. Same story a few minutes later, but this time the knockdown was backwards to Weezer who lashed it home.

Knights were killing Glory along the ground with their pace. Subiaco is huge and the pitch was playing fast with the rain. Glory were having trouble with their mammoths in the conditions, as proven when Porter burnt 3 Glory players but lost to the 4th. Da Costa was everywhere and holding it up well. He missed a point-blank header which was the only poor thing he did all night.

Glory were struggling for ideas, but Marth headbutted someone to help them along. Down to 10, the Knights held out longer than expected.

A free kick was nodded on at the near post and went through to the back, where Deans was on hand to ensure it went in. Then Maloney turned in a cross to equalise the game.

Despotovski had 3 good efforts in the 2nd half. He hit a screamer well outside the box narrowly wide. Put through, the keeper blocked his shot. Then his placed header drifted just wide.

It wasn't to be for the Glory. Marth bested Stange in the tactical battle. Stange sent Naven and Deans wide but it was too little too late. The finals experience of Marth, Lapansky and Horvat was crucial in the end.