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Played
April 7, 2012 10:30 AM BST
nib Stadium — Perth
Referee: P. Green
Attendance: 13695
April 7, 2012 10:30 AM BST
nib Stadium — Perth
Referee: P. Green
Attendance: 13695
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| Perth Glory | 1.83 | 4.75 | 1.73 | 1.65 | 1.85 | 1.15 | 1.66 |
| Draw | 3.40 | 1.30 | 3.40 | 3.75 | 3.20 | 6.00 | 3.75 |
| Wellington Phoenix | 3.75 | 12.00 | 4.00 | 5.25 | 3.85 | 15.00 | 5.50 |
Perth 3-2 Phoenix: Glory win in extra-time
Substitute Todd Howarth seals extra-time victory for Perth over the Phoenix at nib Stadium, eliminating the vistors from the finals race
By Jacob Kagi
Getty
Perth are just one win away from their first appearance in an A-League grand final after Todd Howarth's 112th-minute winner earned them a 3-2 extra-time victory against Wellington on Saturday.
The Phoenix had been just 18 minutes away from winning the minor semi-final at nib Stadium with 90 minutes, but Billy Mehmet's 72nd-minute goal sent the game to extra time.
Substitute winger Howarth then made the visitors pay for their failure to close out the game when he completed a brilliant one-two move with Scott Neville that got the Glory the winning goal and sent the 13,695 fans into raptures.
Victory sees Perth advance to the preliminary finalm where they will face either Brisbane or Central Coast, with the Mariners their most likely opponent given they enter the second leg of Sunday's major semi-final with a 2-0 deficit.
A win in that fixture would be enough for the Glory to make the grand final for the first time since their 2004 National Soccer League title.
Wellington, however, had appeared on course for their second preliminary final appearance in just three seasons when Chris Greenacre and Manny Muscat both scored in the space of eight minutes early in the second half to cancel out Bas van den Brink's opener.
Defeat ended Wellington's surprisingly impressive season and also brought an end to the career of Phoenix veteran Tim Brown, who had already announced he would be retiring at the end of the campaign.
Wellington, who were also dreaming of making the decider for the first time, created little apart from their two goals and it was not enough to avoid a heartbreaking loss.
Perth went ahead just 13 minutes in when Tony Lochhead's clearance off the line travelled straight to van den Brink and the Dutch defender smashed it home.
After the Glory's appeals for a penalty when the ball deflected onto Andrew Durante's outstretched arm were rejected, the hosts nearly doubled their advantage when a delightful Liam Miller ball set up Mehmet but his volley went just wide.
The Phoenix lifted as the half went on and they got their reward just after the break, when Brown used his chest to direct Bertos' cross to Greenacre and the striker finished with ease.
And the visitors hit the lead when Muscat cut in from the right flank and unleashed a wonder strike that curled inside the far post.
Just when it seemed Wellington were going to hold on for an upset win, they failed to clear a Dean Heffernan and Mehmet drove the subsequent flick on past Paston.
Perth had the run of play in extra time and made it count, when Howarth linked with fellow substitute Neville and slotted it home to break Wellington's hearts in a win that was revenge for when the Phoenix eliminated the Glory in a penalty shootout in the 2009-10 season.
The Phoenix had been just 18 minutes away from winning the minor semi-final at nib Stadium with 90 minutes, but Billy Mehmet's 72nd-minute goal sent the game to extra time.
Substitute winger Howarth then made the visitors pay for their failure to close out the game when he completed a brilliant one-two move with Scott Neville that got the Glory the winning goal and sent the 13,695 fans into raptures.
Victory sees Perth advance to the preliminary finalm where they will face either Brisbane or Central Coast, with the Mariners their most likely opponent given they enter the second leg of Sunday's major semi-final with a 2-0 deficit.
A win in that fixture would be enough for the Glory to make the grand final for the first time since their 2004 National Soccer League title.
Wellington, however, had appeared on course for their second preliminary final appearance in just three seasons when Chris Greenacre and Manny Muscat both scored in the space of eight minutes early in the second half to cancel out Bas van den Brink's opener.
Defeat ended Wellington's surprisingly impressive season and also brought an end to the career of Phoenix veteran Tim Brown, who had already announced he would be retiring at the end of the campaign.
Wellington, who were also dreaming of making the decider for the first time, created little apart from their two goals and it was not enough to avoid a heartbreaking loss.
Perth went ahead just 13 minutes in when Tony Lochhead's clearance off the line travelled straight to van den Brink and the Dutch defender smashed it home.
After the Glory's appeals for a penalty when the ball deflected onto Andrew Durante's outstretched arm were rejected, the hosts nearly doubled their advantage when a delightful Liam Miller ball set up Mehmet but his volley went just wide.
The Phoenix lifted as the half went on and they got their reward just after the break, when Brown used his chest to direct Bertos' cross to Greenacre and the striker finished with ease.
And the visitors hit the lead when Muscat cut in from the right flank and unleashed a wonder strike that curled inside the far post.
Just when it seemed Wellington were going to hold on for an upset win, they failed to clear a Dean Heffernan and Mehmet drove the subsequent flick on past Paston.
Perth had the run of play in extra time and made it count, when Howarth linked with fellow substitute Neville and slotted it home to break Wellington's hearts in a win that was revenge for when the Phoenix eliminated the Glory in a penalty shootout in the 2009-10 season.
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Goal
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Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
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Substitution IN
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Live
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scheduled
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Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Daniel McBreen Striker Central Coast Mariners |
19 | 4 |
|
Jeremy Brockie Striker Toronto FC |
16 | 2 |
|
Marco Rojas Midfielder Melbourne Victory |
15 | 0 |
|
Alessandro Del Piero Striker Sydney FC |
14 | 4 |
|
Besart Berisha Striker Brisbane Roar |
14 | 4 |
