A depleted Perth Glory outfit were beaten in a pre-season friendly against last season’s Hyundai A-League grand finalists Adelaide United on Friday night at the Hindmarsh Stadium.
The Glory, who went into the match with nine senior players unavailable, including key off-season recruits Andy Todd, Branko Jelic, and Socceroos pair Jacob Burns and Mile Sterjovski, put up a strong showing in the South Australian capital, with only a 25th minute goal from Reds skipper Travis Dodd separating the teams.

The Reds broke through Perth’s defence twice in the opening five minutes, Dodd and then Korean import Shin finding space down either flank; however both chances lacked a killer final touch.
Just as the Glory started to work their way into the game Adelaide hit the front. Dodd received a pass from Shin 40 metres out just inside the touch line, the Reds skipper going on a mazy run and with Perth defenders continuing to stand off, he skipped and danced his way through and rounded keeper Tando Velaphi to tuck the ball away into an empty net.

Less than two minutes later Shin almost extended the advantage, his low shot beating Glory keeper Tando Velaphi but not the far post. Adelaide continued to dominate and Scott Jamieson and Cristiano both tested Velaphi’s reflexes with stinging shots just after the half hour, but the keeper kept Glory’s deficit to just the solitary goal at the break.
Both teams spent a period with ten men early in the second half as Robert Cornthwaite and Perth marksman Eugene Dadi were bandaged up after clashing heads in an aerial duel, but continued after treatment..

Coach Dave Mitchell said his young squad, which featured three first year players and a trialist in the starting eleven, plus three youth team players on the bench, performed well but were left to rue a slow start.
“Adelaide came out strong from the start of the game that was to be expected from a team that has spent a fair bit of time together. We just took our time getting up to speed and that was the main difference between the sides,” Mitchell said.
“The goal was well worked and reward for Adelaide’s dominance in the opening period however I was pleased with how our lads regrouped and it was an even second half with chances for both sides.”

Versatile Perth SC player Todd Howarth, who is on trial with Glory, started the match and performed well throughout his 90 minutes at left back. The 27 year old, who can play in the midfield or down back, combined well with his fellow defenders to repel the home side’s advances.

Glory’s youth were also given a run in the game in the second half with Stirling Lions’, Dean Evans, Armadale’s Ryan Pearson and Swan United’s Million Butshiire all gained valuable match time in the second half and again proved the depth of talent in West Australian football.
In a late change Frank Juric suited up as Glory’s substitute goal keeper after the necessary paperwork from Aleks Vrteski’s former club failed to arrive in time for the ‘officially sanctioned’ match.

Although the Glory were missing several of their stars, United Coach Aurelio Vidmar would have been pleased with his side’s performance as they controlled the tempo of the match for the majority, especially in the first half. “We were happy, especially with the first half. The first 45 minutes was really good, the intensity was fantastic and we were dynamic in terms of our ball movement and going forward,” Vidmar said.
“In the second half we slowed up, and that’s understandable because we had a few players not match conditioned yet.”


Adelaide United: GK Eugene GALEKOVIC, 2.Robert CORNTHWAITE, 4.Iain FYFE, 7.Lucas PANTELIS (23.Joe COSTA 72’), 9.CRISTIANO, 10.Adam HUGHES (15.Francesco MONTEROSSO 72’), 12.Paul REID (8.Kristian SARKIES 46’), 13.Travis DODD, 14.Scott JAMIESON, 17.Michael MARRONE, 24.Shin IN SUP.
Substitutes Not Used: RGK Mark BIRIGHITTI
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil


Perth Glory: GK Tando VELAPHI, 2.James DOWNEY, 5.Jamie HARNWELL, 10.Wayne SRHOJ, 13.Scott BULLOCH (26.Dean EVANS 71’), 14.Eugene DADI (24.Million BUTSHIRE 82’), 15.Howard FONDYKE (25.Ryan PEARSON 71’), 16.Adriano PELLEGRINO, 18.Brent GRIFFITHS, 23.Andrija JUKIC, 27.Todd HOWARTH.
Substitutes Not Used: RGK Frank JURIC
Yellow Cards: Griffiths 49’
Red Cards: Nil

Crowd: 1,961 @ Hindmarsh Stadium
Referee: Craig Zetter


Report: Peter Simcox

Perth Glory will this week prepare to play last season’s grand finalists, Adelaide United, in a pre-season friendly on Friday night at Hindmarsh Stadium in South Australia. This will be the club’s first match against Hyundai A-League opposition and follows last week’s win against WA Premier League side Inglewood United.

Several players, including Tando Velaphi and Jimmy Downey, who were rested against Inglewood as they overcome minor niggles are set to return against Adelaide.

This is a significant step-up in Perth Glory’s pre-season schedule as they keep one eye on matches against English Premier League club’s Wolverhampton Wanderers and Fulham, which will be played at Members Equity Stadium in just three weeks, and another on the start of the Hyundai A-League in early August.


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Friday, 10 July 2009
Perth Glory v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Members Equity Stadium, 7.30pm
* A special celebrity match featuring former Glory greats and Perth celebs kicks-off at 6.10pm

Wednesday, 15 July 2009 – Double Header
Wolverhampton Wanderers v North Queensland Fury (kick-off 5.15pm)
Perth Glory v Fulham (kick-off 8.00pm)
Members Equity Stadium

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