April 11, 2015 10:13:09 UK
Perth Glory predictably failed to raise themselves from the shattering blow of their finals suspension as they lost 3-0 at home to Sydney FC.
The Glory learned just hours before kick-off that Football Federation Australia had thrown them out of the finals and fined them for breaching the league’s salary cap.
Perth will finish seventh in the table, regardless of how many points they win on the field, and the playing group who had done so well to make them premiership contenders produced an understandably flat performance against the Sky Blues.
It’s down to us to make sure we look after each other, and we’re together.
Kenny Lowe
The Glory, who have spent 16 weeks at the top of the table this season, fell to two Alex Brosque goals and a wonder strike from Bernie Ibini.
The home side did not force Sydney keeper Vedran Janjetovic into a save at nib Stadium, as the Sky Blues continued their superb record away from home. Graham Arnold’s team are undefeated in their last 12 away games.
Sydney FC are 1.72 to win their next game against Newcastle Jets, who are 4.00 with the draw 3.75.
Sydney had gone close through Chris Naumoff and Marc Janko before they took the lead 10 minutes from the break.
Janko’s header was saved by keeper Danny Vukovic but the ball sat up nicely for Brosque to fire into an unguarded net.
Perth were denied an equaliser a minute later when Jamie Maclaren’s strike was ruled out for offside.
The visitors doubled their lead on the hour mark as Ibini latched onto a clearing header from defender Michael Thwaite, controlled the ball with his right foot and smacked it beyond Vukovic into the far corner with his left.
Five minutes later Brosque grabbed his second goal of the match, firing across Vukovic after he was found by Ibini’s clever pass.
Hugely disappointed by the finals ban, Glory coach Kenny Lowe said: “The ultimate thing is we all hang in there and stick together, and finish off the season in a proud manner where you can have some integrity about yourself.
“It’s down to us to make sure we look after each other, and we’re together. This can actually be a defining moment for the club.”
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