A last-minute goal from Reece Vittiglia, giving him a hat-trick, enabled Perth Glory to snatch a 4-3 win after a nail-biting tit-for-tat clash with the AIS at McKellar Park on Saturday.
The game saw both sides on top at different stages, but after coming off a 4-0 loss last week, Perth-s hunger was too much for the AIS.
Despite some good attacking surges from both teams in the early stages, defence around the goals was just too tight until the 16th minute when Eli Babalj struck from a tight angle giving the AIS first points and a strong start to the match.
AIS dominance continued with Babalj scoring again two minutes later, heading a cross from John Martinoski to take the AIS to a two goal lead by the 18th minute.
The 26th minute saw the AIS nearly go another goal ahead but quick hands from Glory keeper Alex Pearson denied them the goal.
Strong midfield play from both teams created numerous opportunities at goal for both teams, with Nikola Stanojevic and Ersin Kaya the standouts.
Perth Glory were noticeably hungry for a goal in the later stages of the first half. Perth did its best to regain some ground with some good attacking moves and close attempts at goal, but was denied the chance by some tight defence from the AIS.
Both teams returned to second half play looking to dominate. The strong midfield play continued, with the AIS keen to maintain its two goal lead and Perth Glory looking to get points on the board.
Perth Glory had numerous attempts at goal in the mid stages of the second half and did their best to put some pressure on the AIS side, but the strong play couldn-t be converted until the 61st minute when their persistence paid off.
Vittiglia converted Perth-s third corner of the game and went on to add another after being set up by Cameron Edwards, levelling the match at two apiece in the 69th minute.
But the AIS was quick to bite back with John Matrinovski curling in an impressive free kick into goal during the 75th minute putting the AIS back in the lead and setting up an exciting finish.
With nine minutes to go Perth Glory had a fight on their hands with the AIS keen to protect its one point lead, but its determination was just too strong after Perth Glory-s Ludovic Boi intercepted a bad back pass from the AIS- Stanojevic, shooting the ball straight into goal, levelling the match yet again at three all.
There was no room for error with five minutes left on the clock but neither side could convert, the scores remained deadlocked at three a piece up until the final seconds when Vittiglia manoeuvred the ball through a tight AIS defence leaving Perth Glory to take out the match 4-3.
Perth Glory 4 (Vittiglia 61′, 69′, 94), Boi 79′)
AIS 3 (Babalj 16′,18′, Martinoski 75′)
At McKellar Park
