A wonder goal from Alex Terra has ensured Melbourne Heart FC extended its unbeaten run to four matches with a 1-1 draw with Perth Glory at nib Stadium.
A wonder goal from Alex Terra has ensured Melbourne Heart FC extended its unbeaten run to four matches with a 1-1 draw with Perth Glory at nib Stadium.
With Heart trailing midway through the second half, the diminutive Brazilian produced the goal of the season with a remarkable bicycle kick as the away side secured a share of the points.
Terra-s goal was just reward for the Red and White-s, who were denied countless times throughout the match by the brilliance of Perth Glory ‘keeper Tando Velaphi.
Head Coach John van ‘t Schip admitted he wasn-t overly surprised by Terra-s stellar effort, revealing the former Fluminense attacker has defied gravity on numerous occasions during training.
“It was a great goal and that makes football nice to see and watch when players can make goals like that,” he said.
“Alex knows how to score goals like that and I’m happy for him after a difficult period that he’s had here with little injuries and not playing as much as he wants.
“We’ve seen him to do that at training and he actually did at the first training he came to.”
With both sides keen to exert control early, the opening exchanges were an end-to-end affair as the match kicked-off at a frenetic pace.
And it was Heart who was presented with the first opportunity to get on the scoresheet as Nick Kalmar, waltzed through the centre of the park uninhibited before producing a neat curling effort which forced an acrobatic save from Velaphi.
Kalmar-s midfield partner Josip Skoko was next to test his wares from long range, unleashing a first time thunderbolt which soared just of the Glory goal.
However, as the half progress, Perth began to assert its authority on the match, as Todd Howarth and Robbie Fowler each came close to opening the score.
And before too long, Glory-s dominance was rewarded as Tommy Amphlett played a neat one-two with Robbie Fowler, who provided a clever lofted ball back to youngster.
Amphlett then shielded the ball away from his Heart opponent and chested it into the path of Todd Howarth who did the rest, applying the finish to send the home crowd into raptures.
Heart almost hit back immediately as following a wondrous series of passes on the fringe of the penalty area, Skoko releases Terra with a pass of invention.
The Socceroo legend lofted the ball over the defence into the path of Terra, but the attacker was only able to drive his half-volleyed effort directly at Velaphi from the angle.
After the break, Glory threatened to extend its lead, with Adriano Pellegrino twice peppering the goal from long range before a penalty box scramble yielded appeals for a goal which went ignored.
Following the reprieve, Heart sought to make the most of its lifeline, venturing forward in a revamped 3-5-2 formation.
And the side was duly rewarded for its endeavour in the 70th minute through Terra-s goal of the season contender as all three substitutes combined.
After a cross from Dean Heffernan on the left, Gerald Sibon used all his experience and composure to cushion a header back to Alex Terra.
With his back to goal, the Brazilian deftly volleyed the ball up before producing an innovative bicycle kick which flew into the top left hand corner.
Terra-s strike inspired Heart to another plane, with the side producing a series of brilliant chances from John Aloisi and Gerald Sibon.
However, Velaphi-s heroics prevented Heart from breaking through for a second goal, while Scott Neville almost snatched a winner with the final kick of the match at the other end of the park to complete an enthralling affair.
