An injury-time goal to Francesco Monterosso has seen Adelaide United come from behind to beat an undisciplined Perth Glory 2-1 in the National Youth League match at Hindmarsh Stadium on Tuesday.
The Reds were on the back foot when Tommy Amphlett broke free of Perry Mitris, beat goalkeeper Mark Birighitti’s right hand and found the back of the net in the 57th minute.
But when Anthony Skorich was sent from the pitch a few minutes later for an altercation with the referee (he received two yellow cards) the game changed dramatically.
Adelaide preyed on a 10-man Perth with Monterosso heading home an 80th-minute equaliser from close range before bobbing up for the winner in the third minute of injury time.
The dangerous striker received the ball a few metres outside the penalty box, turned quickly towards goal and elevated the ball into the roof of the net.
In the past three weeks United has claimed seven points against the competition’s top three sides and is now level on points with third-placed Gold Coast.
It was a missed opportunity for Perth as its nine-match run without loss came to an end. The Glory could have claimed a two-point buffer at the top of the National Youth League table but is instead on equal points with Central Coast but remain second because of an inferior goal difference.
It didn’t take long for Adelaide to assert its authority on the contest with several chances in the opening 16 minutes.
Captain Matthew Mullen and Joel Allwright tested goalkeeper Alex Pearson with strikes from outside the box in the 10th minute before a Mitris’ free kick curled past the defensive wall only to be parried away by the stopper.
The hosts earned three corner kicks in as many minutes and when Evan Kostopoulos entered the shooting gallery it seemed only a matter of time before they’d break the deadlock.
Instead the Glory lifted their intensity and restored some balance to the contest. Josh Risdon gave Birighitti a scare by sliding a ball across the face of goal and a few defensive lapses in concentration by the Reds saw the visitors string together some promising attacking plays.
Perth was the more dangerous side after the break with Amphlett pulling the trigger from outside the box but being denied by a fingertip save by Birighitti.
His attacking intent was rewarded soon after but the visitors’ joy was quickly replaced with concern as Skorich was given his marching orders.
United rallied and after a number of attacking thrusts was back challenging for points.
The equaliser was set up by a Dane Milovanovic ball, which was headed into the danger zone by Robbie Cornthwaite before Monterosso finished on the goal line.
It was curtains for the Glory when Monterosso struck again although Hayden Doyle sent a ball over the crossbar at the death in a last-gasp attempt to claim a point.
Adelaide United 2 (Monterosso 80, 90)
Perth Glory 1 (Amphlett 57)
Hindmarsh Stadium
