Number 23 Michael Thwaite engages with fans after the match
Sydney FC lost 2-1 to Perth Glory in Perth on Saturday night with a woeful defence costing them three valuable points in what was a highly entertaining match.
The game started with Perth having more of the possession but Sydney had the better opportunities to score, only their woeful finishing kept the game at 0-0.
Perth punished Sydney in the 20th minute. In a move that saw the ball go from one end of the field to the other, it eventually found its way to Chris Harold who buried his shot past Sydney’s keeper to make it 1-0 to Perth Glory.
Just 9 minutes later, a ball from Sydney’s right saw Alessandro Del Piero pick up possession deep in the centre. He punished Perth’s ball watching defence as his screaming left-footed shot found the net from 25 metres out to make it 1-1.
A short corner in the 35th minute found its way to the feet of an unmarked Shane Smeltz who side-footed the ball into the back of the net, giving Perth a 2-1 lead which they took into half time.
Sydney FC started the second half with renewed energy, but it was short lived. Some ordinary defence in the 58th minute by Fabio saw him sent off for a second yellow card offence, bringing Sydney down to 10 men.
Sydney continued to attack and trouble Perth in a game that consistently saw end to end action. But it was too little too late for the Sky Blues who slip into 8th place and are now in peril of missing out on a finals position.
Perth Glory 2 (Chris Harold 20′, Shane Smeltz 35′)
Sydney FC 1 (Alessandro Del Piero 29′)
Man of the match: Liam Miller
Crowd: 8,378
