The fairy tale that was the inaugural Perth Glory season came to a close tonight - and for most, it was all too premature. On the one night of the year when they most needed whatever luck was owed to them, Lady luck chose to look the other way. Moreover, it was not just that she was looking away from the Glory Boys, but that her gaze wasn't too far away from where the Knights were standing. Maybe Perth failed to make the six only because Tommy Pondeljak is better looking than Vas Kalegeracos!? :)
It would be unfair to suggest that either the Knights were inordinately lucky or indeed that the better team didn't win on the night, but in the same breath it must be said that Perth were dealt a tough hand tonight, and that's aside from having to play for a result in what is arguably the toughest away venue in the land!
Poised on a knife-edge up until the dismissal of the Glory's Paul Strudwick shortly after half time, the match swung irrevocably the way of the home team thereafter to end in a 3-1 victory which surprisingly conspires to become the Knights' second biggest victory at home all season! (bettered only by their somewhat uncharacteristic thrashing of West Adelaide 4-0 in Round 11).
The match started with the notable news that Adrian Cervinski had indeed passed a late fitness test to assume his position in the Knights' starting line-up. There were suggestions from some sections of the media (i.e Optus Vision :)) that Cervinski's injury had been somewhat over-stated from the offing for the purpose of subterfuge. ("I know nah-sink!").
Although few genuine observers of the Oz Soccer scene would have predicted otherwise, Perth signalled their commitment to attacking football (despite only requiring a draw to qualify for the finals) as early as the fifth minute when Bobby Despotovski had positioned himself to receive a Kalegeracos cross at the top of the box, only to see his first time strike fly into the arms of Didulica in the Knights' goal.
It was only five minutes later that Perth's man of the match for the evening, Tony Carbone, made sure that the Knights were going to have to attack to get their victory when he scored the opening goal of the game. In what was a solo effort, Carbone received an outlet pass fired from deep within the Glory half, and proceeded down the right flank veering slightly toward the right side of the penalty box. Having promoted the ball to a point wide right in the penalty box, Carbone created only a hint of space beyond both Banini and Kovacevic, both of whom were in close attendance, to fire a low shot past the diving Didulica and within the far post - albeit, possibly with the assistance of a bad bounce just prior to the ball passing the keeper.
Kutlesovski almost manufactured an immediate reply only a minute later when he smacked a Lapsansky cross against the bar from about 6 yards out. There surely would have been an inquisition within the Glory defence had the header found its mark as Kutlesovski was clearly unattended.
The tone of the first 15-20 minutes of the match was dictated by Perth's willingness to attack and hunger to be first to the ball. The Knights underestimated their opponents' keenness several times, and were often getting passes away at the back only just in the nick of time.
Cervinski's contribution to the game was perilously close to being limited to elbowing Wilkinson(?) in or close to the face in the 18th minute when the former over-reacted to some shirt-pulling or nominal man-handling by his marker. Not even a card was shown! It could have been that the angle may have obscured the extent of Cervinski's reaction to the ref.
On a different tack, Ransford Banini was also wanting to make an impact off the ball, but at least he chose a more non-intrusive form of expression. The black pearl had the word "Knights" shaved into the back of his head as if to underline his commitment to the cause.
The game progressed in a relatively open manner for the remainder of the half even though there were a number of personal battles threatening to sour the tone of the evening. Aside from Cervinski's aforementioned pathetic display, Markovski and Strudwick were booked in the 25th minute as a result of the latter's tackle-from-behind on Lapsansky. It was a fair call on Strudwick who was wanting to be a bit too clever with his trailing leg after the ball had gone. Markovski merely wanted to carry the issue on when realistically it was none of his business.
To everyone's credit, the match did not deteriorate into a butchers' convention.
In the 30th minute, Cervinski headed over the bar from within the 6 yard box. In fairness to him, the cross was placed high and perhaps just behind him. It was at about this time that there was anecdotal evidence to suggest that Cervinski was indeed suffering due possibly to the subsidence of any pain killers that he may have taken in order to start the match.
In the 32nd minute, Cervinski opted to cross a ball he perhaps usually would have selfishly kept to himself (as all good strikers should) for a strike on goal. Thanks to a beautifully controlled run from Tommy Pondeljak down the guts of the Perth midfield, Cervinski was introduced into the penalty area on the back of a perceptive through ball. His path to, and view of the goal was obstructed only by Zabica between the posts, yet he opted to cross the ball back to Pondeljak at the far post where he might usually have sought to side-foot the ball past the advancing keeper. Whilst the play was commendable (and indeed could not really be faulted), it was surprising and possibly telling!
Unsurprisingly, the game finished with a high card tally. Generally speaking, (or should that be "writing"? :) ) however, the onus of the count rested very much more significantly with the players than the ref, Simon Micallef. As if he wasn't already "walking the line", Lapsansky tested the resolve of the ref when he hacked Gareth Naven from behind in an ungracious manner. To his credit, Micallef did what he could to keep the card in his pocket and the game on an even keel; both of which he did. Well that is until a minute later! Lapsanksy effectively forced the issue with his second infringement in quick succession thanks to another mindless foul.
If either side was the more dominant in the closing stages of the half, then it was the Knights - even if they didn't often translate their possession into strikes on goal. With only minutes to go before the break, Craig Naven was booked for a holding foul just outside the Glory Box. One surely couldn't be wrong in presuming that Glory coach Marocchi would be loathe to accept his players conceding free kicks anywhere near the penalty area with Andrew Marth's ability with the dead ball at the disposal of the Red team. As if the point was so obvious, the Knights worked a set play that had Marth involved only as a decoy - the shot ultimately being taken by Cervinski who skied the ball clearly over the bar.
Oh yeah, that cliche; what is it?....those final five minutes just before half time?.....Tommy Pondeljak registered the Knights first goal in the 44th minute of the half. As before, on any other night the roll of the dice would have prevented this goal from happening! Marth, Pondeljak, Lapsanksy and Cervinski conspired to produce a move that might very well be described in other sections of the media (yeah, like I'm media now!! :) ) as a rapid fire succession of one-touch-football when in fact the only intended touches within the move were Marth's original chip and Pondeljak's headed flick on - even, Pondeljak's final shot on goal, whilst to his credit was well directed, was fortunate considering the contact he made with the ball.
From somewhere near 35 yards out, Stabber Marth chipped the ball to Pondeljak who only had the option of flicking the ball on with his head if the momentum of the build was to be maintained. His generic (rather than purposeful) header landed awkwardly at the feet of Lapsansky who lost control of the ball, but he was blessed enough to find Cervinski with his mis-guided touch. In turn, with the ball falling behind him, Cervinski's first touch wasn't what he would have wanted, and the ball skidded well beyond him......conveniently into the path of the determined Tommy Pondeljak who scuffed a "bump-ball" (cricket-style) into the back of the net from close range.
In the pursuit of a balanced report, two things are to be noted from the goal: a) that the Knights made what they did of their opportunity because of their sense of assuming positions closer to the ball than their respective markers, and b) that it still takes skill to at least cushion the ball in an appropriate direction under duress! This said, the Glory boys could feel a little unlucky with the chain of events that led to the goal.
It was Perth that started the significant action of the second half, when only three minutes after the break, Vas Kalegeracos mis-cued a sharp chance that saw his glanced effort initially evade Didulica only for the keeper to snatch the ball from behind him just before it crossed the line. Had he connected truly with the Gareth Naven cross, the Knights would again have been a goal down. But surely it was telling that Kalegeracos' poor connect didn't go in whilst Pondeljak's effort just before half time did.
The balance of the game fell to the Knights' side of the fence in the 8th minute of the second half when Paul Strudwick was dealt his second yellow card for the evening. In challenging Andrew Marth for an aerial header, Strudwick inadvertently elbowed his opponent in the face which left Stabber with a trail of blood streaming from his nose. This tell-tale sign aside, I am convinced that there was no intent whatever on the part of Strudwick to inflict injury. My guess upon observing the replay was that he was attempting to affect the "professional" execution of a challenged aerial header where one raises one's arm in front of the eyes of one's opponent to obscure his view! (Enough with da' "one's" already!). For mine, however, there was obviously no intent and no need for a yellow card - ultimately, however, there was no Paul Strudwick from there on in.
It can't go without comment that Zoran Markovski needs to pull his head in for his antics leading up to and then immediately after Strudwick's dismissal. Although, Micallef had no intention otherwise, Markovski made sure that the ref a) was going to issue a card, and b) once having done so, was made aware that indeed it would have been the guilty's second bookable offence. Ahh sure, you see that often enough, but Markovski's "send-off" of Strudwick (who conducted himself with amazing calm in the face of such antagonism) was deplorable. Markovski saw fit to clap the decision in a very "in-the-face" manner (both figuratively and literally), and even then, had the gall to arrogantly pat Strudwick on the back as he turned to leave the field. I'm not one for sensationalism, but I would ask the reader to perhaps consider the possible ramifications of such actions at say, next week's first final match in Melbourne between South and the Knights where I'm sure that the atmosphere will be at least, shall we say, "electric"?!
As if to cue, the Knights took the lead only 4 minutes later thanks again to the man of the match, Tommy Pondeljak. At the risk of giving the report too heavy a bias toward Perth, it has to be said that, again, Perth had claim to feeling a little ripped off. It is because none of the Optus commentary team saw anything in the issue that I'm tempted not to mention anything about it, and admittedly, the all too few replays of the goal from telling angles left me still in some doubt, but seeing as I've been flying by the seat of my pants throughout........
Pondeljak blasted the ball past Zabica from close range after what appeared to be a handled knock-down by Lapsansky within what was a very crowded penalty area. In attempting to roost the ball to any part of the ground away from Zabica's goal, a Glory clearance fairly cannoned into what appeared to be the arm of Lapsansky just inside the top of the penalty box. Again, I must stress that the absence of comment to this affect from any other person has left me at least doubting what I believe I saw, but I feel I saw what I saw (said the lumberjack).
*Presuming the observation to be correct*, it must be said that there could be no doubt that Lapsanksy's fortunate deflection was totally accidental - the ball was blasted from a matter of a metre or two into his body. Unlike many in our game however, I cannot accept that a free kick was not awarded for the incident in spite of its lack of intention as the Knights (quite obviously) secured a very significant advantage from the foul. It is perhaps inappropriate to judge on the basis of speculation, but without the benefit of replays I'd have to leave it to the reader/viewer. (Maybe the post mortems will clear this issue one way or the other!).
In short, however, if the ball did hit Lapsansky's arm, then the Glory have every right to feel robbed. This aside, I would close the issue by noting that there wasn't much of a reaction from the Perth defenders!!!
All of this aside, from the replay behind the goal, Zabica appeared suspiciously as though he had opted to leave Pondeljak's shot alone perhaps of the mind that it was going wide! Granted, the shot was fiercely struck from close range, but given that the ball passed Zabica either within or only just out of arm's length, it was at least curious that the experienced keeper didn't extend his arm to the ball. Again, though, benefit of the doubt goes to the keeper.
Pondeljak was at it again only minutes later when he flashed a ball just wide of Zabica's post after himself doing the lead up work cutting a swathe through the heart of the Glory midfield. There perhaps was added satisfaction this time as he also dispensed with his old team mate Vinko Buljabasic "en route to goal" (thanks Mike Hill!).
Nastevski who did the business in keeping Glory's livewire Vas Kalegeracos quiet all evening, ultimately had to do so at some cost. In the 20th minute of the half he had to (had to???) resort to holding the nippy striker back as Kalegeracos put a sublime turn on him near the half way line. As with Lapsansky, Nastevski will now miss the first of the home and away ties against South Melbourne next week due to exceeding the penalty point threshold for accumulating too many yellow cards. If the Knights' playing roster was stretched tonight with Cervinski and Kovacevic under the effects of pain killers, and then having only 13 players to choose from, then not even David Cervinski's rushed return next week will fill the hole created by these two suspensions. South Melbourne owes the Glory a favour!
The progression of the half slowly but very surely saw the home side assume the ascendency, thanks in the main to the extra man advantage, but also it appeared to their composure in tense situations - their experience! The game was still none the less open and if not quite end-to-end, then certainly penalty box-to-penalty box :).
Their weren't an abundance of chances by any means, but most of those that were created fell the way of the Knights.
In the 21st minute Tasevski's cross was volleyed wide by the recently subbed Duzel who lingered unmarked at the farr post. It was notable that Marocchi opted to sacrifice Buljabasic as a free man in order to maintain his dual strike force in Strudwick's absence - there was no choice really, was there?
Perth were none the less holding their own insofar as limiting the Knights strikes on goal, yet the onus was on them to force the issue. Cervinski had the only other noteworthy "free-field" chance on goal from there on in in the 32nd minute, which he spurned by blasting wide from outside the box.
The game was signed, sealed and delivered when Cervinski finally registered his monicker on the scoresheet from the penalty spot in the 85th minute. Kutlesovski secured a soft (but justifiable) penalty when his ankle was tapped from behind by Wingell who was perhaps naively intent on winning the ball in spite of the covering presence of two other Glory defenders. Wingell actually got to the ball first, but also nudged Kutlesovski's ankle who with three defenders around him and little opportunity to score didn't need to be given another cue to go down. The one card Micallef didn't have to give tonight (if any) was that shown to Buljabasic who kicked the ball away in frustration, rather than in protest, at seeing his finals hope evaporate with the award of the penalty. Still, you can't argue with Micallef for giving the card, it's just that maybe he could've held back. It matters none now anyway I guess.
Perth were dealt a harsh hand tonight, but from the outset their job was always going to be tough in trying to gain a result at Somers St.....
But lest we forget, Perth have had a remarkably successful year and have brought joy to many on many fronts (eg. how many great goals has Vas scored this year? How many clubs have been shown up by the off-field endeavours of the Glory board? Take out the Glory's crowds and we wouldn't be anywhere near the 1,000,000 aggregate gate for the season....and so on). Furthermore, in their inaugural season, Perth have perhaps given a clue to the resolution of the Socceroos striking problems! No, I'm not kidding! I said it at the time as well, but I would have definitely opted to "experiment" with Despotovski and Kalegeracos (and while I'm at it: Sean Babic and Jim Tsekinis) in the recently fulfilled Optus Cup World Challenge......
The Glory have signalled to me a new era in our domestic footballing history. The Knights, on the other hand, remarkably continue (for now) theirs.
Yellow Cards: Melbourne Knights: Markovski (25), Lapsansky (35), Nastevski (65), Kutlesovski (89). Perth Glory: Strudwick (25, 53), C. Naven (41), Miller (58), Wilkinson (82), G. Naven (84), Buljabasic (85). Best: 3 pts: Tom Pondeljak 2 pts: Tony Carbone 1 pt : Lube Lapsanksy Ref: Simon Micallef rating: 8/10 He had a tough job to do and did it well. Match rating: 7/10 Entertaining and quite open thanks to Perth. Crowd: ????? wasn't given over Octopus Vision!