The AIS have snuck away with a 4-3 win over the Perth Glory in an entertaining Round 14 National Youth League match in difficult conditions at the AIS Athletics Track on Saturday afternoon.
AIS captain Connor Chapman went from villain to hero, after scoring an early own goal he bobbed up with the match-winner in the 91st minute, with fist pumps aplenty.
There were four seasons in one day at Canberra, with wind, a torrential downpour and then sunshine in a second half which saw four goals scored, including three in the final 10 minutes.
The AIS won the toss and went with a strong wind. They nearly had a goal after only two minutes when Brodie Paterson cut in and hit the crossbar with a powerful shot.
The heavens opened up in the fifth minute and fortunately it subdued after 10 minutes and eventually ceased, but it left the pitch quite slippery.
It was the Glory who got the early goal against the run of play.
Storm Roux made a strong run down the right and crossed it in dangerously, so much so that AIS captain Chapman-s attempted clearance went past a hapless Paul Izzo.
In another blow to the AIS, Paterson slid in for a challenge and injured his leg, replaced by Aaron Peterson.
Perth gained confidence from their goal and their passing game improved significantly with the AIS unable to have the same possession in their attacking half which they were afforded earlier.
Cameron Edwards was dangerous for Perth, nearly scoring from a long range free kick which managed to somehow bounce through a pack of players untouched and just wide of the post.
The AIS missed a golden opportunity to level in 41st minute when Melvin Becket toyed with Naum Sekulovski, ran deep inside the six yard box and cut it back to Anthony Proia who somehow shot over the crossbar directly in front of goal.
He made amends seconds later, substitute Peterson cutting off a poor clearance and beating two defenders before he stumbled with only goalkeeper Timothy Doyle to beat and Proia was waiting in the wings though and knocked it in to an open goal.
In the shadows of half time Proia had another opportunist goal, Milos Degenek was on the right and shaped to cross when Doyle moved slightly off his line, he cleverly whipped in a ball to the near post which nearly went it before Proia was in the right place at the right time and tapped in.
Like Proia, the sun was shining in the second half, and he nearly had his hat-trick only seconds into the half but he made a meal of a good cross from Ryan Edwards and hit it far too high.
The Glory hit back in the 52nd minute, Edwards put in a curling corner and tall defender Brent Griffiths met it with a powerful header in the top left corner.
The speedy Peterson was causing headaches for the Glory with his pace on the left hand side as the AIS pushed for a winner.
The Glory were holding the ball well in the midfield and it lead to a near goal in the 76th minute.
Sahr Musa darted down the right, crossed perfectly to Jelic who rose and headed the ball down into the turf and it bounced into the left post and back to Jelic who mistimed a second header and it was held easily by Izzo.
Peterson had been well held late in the second half, but when it counted he took the ball on the left of the goal, turned and nailed a solid left foot shot which looked to be the winner.
Perth had other ideas, Musa and Jelic again combined and this time Musa was rewarded for his run and cross when Jelic headed in for the equaliser.
It was then that Chapman made amends, shooting truly after a goal mouth scramble, before Musa missed the last chance of the game when he was unmarked but headed wide.
AIS 4 (Proia 41, 45 +1, Peterson 84, Chapman 91m)
Perth 3 (Chapman og 16, Griffiths 52, Jelic 88m)
