Games between Melbourne City and Perth Glory have provided plenty of goals this season. The two sides have met three times in the Hyundai A-League this campaign, with each game providing plenty of drama and entertainment. Here is a look back at City’s previous meeting with The Glory this season ahead of their Elimination Final on Sunday.
Melbourne City 2 Perth Glory 3 (21 October 2016 – Hyundai A-League Round 3)
City were looking to make it three wins out of three when the two sides met at AAMI park in October.
The visitors took the lead after just seven minutes when Nebojsa Marinkovic’s free-kick was hooked back across goal by Chris Harold, providing Andy Keogh with an easy tap in.
City responded a minute before half time when Bruno Fornaroli won and converted a penalty in the 43rd minute.
The momentum continued to swing back and forth, as Keogh restored The Glory’s lead with a close-range header before Fernando Brandan brought parity to the score line once again.
However, it was Perth which claimed all three points five minutes from time when Josh Rose’s defensive header landed at the feet of Keogh.
The striker lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis to complete his hat trick and hand The Glory its second victory of the season.
Melbourne City 3 Perth Glory 3 (27 December 2016 – Hyundai A-League Round 12)
An action-packed game ended all square after Perth goalkeeper Liam Reddy made two penalty saves to deny City all three points.
City took the lead twice through a Tim Cahill header and an exquisite finish from Fornaroli, however they were pegged back both times by the instrumental Diego Castro.
Before that, Fornaroli did have the chance to put City 3-1 ahead from the penalty spot but the Uruguayan was denied by a stunning save from Reddy.
The City captain made no mistake, though, when Bruce Kamau was fouled inside the area and Fornaroli tucked away the subsequent penalty to make it 3-2.
Perth drew level again through Chris Harold, before a chaotic ending to a roller-coaster game.
Fernando Brandan and Perth’s Dino Djulbic were involved in a stoppage time scuffle in the visitors’ penalty area, which resulted in both players being sent off.
City were awarded their third penalty of the game, however Fornaroli’s effort was saved by Reddy for the second time.
Perth Glory 5 Melbourne City 4 (16 April 2017 – Hyundai A-League Round 27)
The final game of the regular A-League season turned into another classic, with both sides battling to secure a top four finish and a home tie in the Elimination Final.
Diego Castro’s fourth minute penalty was cancelled out by an accomplished finish from Tim Cahill, however Perth’s potent forward line took control in the second half.
Two goals in the space of five minutes from Andy Keogh and Chris Harold gave the hosts a 3-1 lead.
Nebo Marinkovic added a fourth with a spectacular free-kick, meaning another goal for Kenny Lowe’s side would have seen them leapfrog City into fourth place.
The visitors fought back, however, as goals from Cahill and Nicolás Colazo reduced the deficit to just one goal.
Adam Taggart then made it 5-3 to the visitors before Nick Fitzgerald scored a late consolation, capitalising on an error from Perth goalkeeper Liam Reddy.
