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Penalty double gives Perth the points

The remarkable and unwanted statistic cost United dearly in what was a tepid match, but although they could argue the second penalty awarded against Ben Halloran was harsh, there was little doubt about the first one midway through the opening half.

As a corner from the right swirled into the box Zac Anderson clearly handled the ball and Mile Sterjovski stepped up to send Glen Moss the wrong way with the resulting spot-kick.

The opening exchanges had been relatively uneventful with just a handful of half chances to the home side as the hot conditions took their toll on the match as a spectacle.

Gold Coast had welcomed back Olyroo pair James Brown and Dylan McGowan after a two-match absence with McGowan reclaiming his spot at right full-back. Brown slotted into a midfield trio that included skipper Michael Thwaite and new signing Jonas Salley due to the absence of Paul Beekmans (foot) and Peter Jungschlager (ankle).

There were changes in defence as well with Ante Rozic’s anticipated comeback from injury stalled after his knee complaint flared up on Friday. But his young replacement Anderson had an evening to forget in what was his first start of the campaign. After being booked for the handball that led to the first spot-kick, Anderson was shown a second yellow card just after the hour after he collided with Andrezinho and was sent for an early shower by referee StrebreDelovski.

After going one down United tried to hit back immediately with Salley heading Brown’s free-kick just wide from a narrow angle. Then ten minutes before the break Gold Coast enjoyed their best spell of the game and Thwaite almost connected with a corner as he went storming into the box.

Miron Bleiberg brought on Dutch forward Maceo Rigters at the start of the second half in place of the out of sorts Mebrahtu as United looked for a way back into the game that was still very much in the balance at that point.

James Brown had been at the heart of most of United’s best work in what was a flat first 45 minutes and he almost levelled for his side soon after the restart when the visitors fashioned their best chance of the match. AdamaTraore’s marauding run down the left created the opening and his clever cut-back was met first time by Brown, but Perth keeper Danny Vukovic was up to the task and saved well.

However, just a few minutes later things got a lot worse for Gold Coast when in the space of eight minutes they went further behind and were also reduced to ten men.

This time it was Ben Halloran who was adjudged to have shoved Andrezinho off the ball and former Gold Coast striker Shane Smeltz dispatched the ball past New Zealand teammate Moss.

To their credit Gold Coast rallied despite being a man down and pressed hard to force an opening, but Perth closed the game out to take the points as well as claiming the Iron Ore Cup for the first time.

Gold Coast United:

1.Glen Moss [gk], 3.Michael Thwaite (c), 4.Zac Anderson, 5.Kristian Rees, 7.Golgol Mebrahtu (16.Maceo Rigters 46’), 12.Dylan Macallister, 14.Ben Halloran, 15.Adama Traore, 18.James Brown (27.Ambes Yosief 85’), 23.Dylan McGowan (29.Mitch Bevan 79’), 24.Jonas Salley.
Unused subs: 20.Jerrad Tyson [gk].

Yellow cards: Anderson 18’ / 62’, Salley 26’, Rees 77’

Red cards: Anderson 62’.

Perth Glory:

1.Danny Vukovic [gk], 2.Josh Mitchell, 3.Bas van den Brink, 4.Billy Mehmet, 7.Jacob Burns (c), 9.Shane Smeltz, 10.Liam Miller, 17.Todd Howarth, 21.Mile Sterjovski (22.Adam Taggart 70’), 25.Trent McClenahan, 27.Andrezinho (14.Steven McGarry 79’).

Unused subs: 30.Lewis Italiano [gk]. 8.Adam Hughes.
Yellow cards: McClenahan 15’, Miller 37’, van den Brink 44’.

Red cards: None.

Hyundai A-League Week 9

At nib Stadium, Perth

PERTH GLORY2 (Sterjovski [pen] 20’, Smeltz [pen] 54’)

GOLD COAST UNITED 0

HT: 1-0

Referee: Strebre Delovski