Perth Glory wrapped up the NSL Premiership on Saturday night with a pulsating 4-2 win over a re-jigged Parramatta Power. A spell of 4 goals in 27 mins kept fans wondering whether Glory may slip up but a final cracker from Nick Mrdja at the 87 min mark in his first full game this season sent Glory fans for the champagne and Power fans to wait for next year.
Power deserved their win as they looked just so much more organised and lethal than Parramatta but Power gave them a 'good run for their money'.
Earlier the Women's National Soccer League Grand Final in front of 1,100 spectators saw some fine skilful, dare I say graceful, football as Canberra Eclipse shocked the undefeated NSW Sapphires 1-0. They took the title for the first time, through a 65th min counter attack goal crafted by Caitlin Munoz after sustained NSW assault on the young side from the Capital.
As for the NSL game, outgoing Head Coach David Mitchell was back from overseas, and he had to get his side back on the winning road to meet the top 6 challenges presented by fellow aspirants South Melbourne and Northern Spirit who both won on Friday night. Opponent Perth Glory was going to be 'an Everest to climb!' The usual question to answer again tonight was: is this going to be the 'good' Parramatta' or the 'bad' Parramatta?
Perth, coming east with only a win needed to cement to top spot and with 70 diehard 'Shed' fans on their "Tour of Duty 2002" could either steamroller Power or rest on their laurels. Without Matt Horsley and Jamie Harnwell, they still looked strong.
Power took the field with a strike force of young Matt Holman paired with utility man Damien Brown, backed up by Matthew Langdon starting in an unaccustomed role just behind.
If you thought Parramatta were going to sit back then the first few minutes would have alerted you to the game plan. Attack! In the 2nd min they gained a corner and from that a cross found Peter Bennett 25m out and he hit a stinging shot which Jason Petkovic did extremely well to see let alone hold.
Damien Brown relishing the forward position, last seen to good effect playing for Blacktown City on the NSWPL, put pressure on the Glory defences and gained another corner. A min later Ahmad Elrich got the ball to Brown who sent it goal-ward but the keeper gathered it OK.
Perth slowly settled into some pattern and in the 12th min Gary Faria on the right threaded a ground cross through to Damian Mori on the left side but uncharacteristically he miss kicked.
Brett Holman for Power got behind the Glory defence on the left but his cross cleared all heads in the box. Play continued end to end with no-one gaining the penetration of the first 15 mins.
In the 28th min Holman got free on the edge of the goal area and shot strongly and low but Petkovic gathered well. One min later Bobby Despotovski on the right headed a cross to Mori but Les Pogliacomi in goal for Power got down well to smother.
Referee Perry Mur incurred the wrath of the Power fans when he denied Matthew Langdon a penalty when he was sent sprawling in the penalty area by Edgar, after he had been slipped a fine ball by Brown.
In the 36th min Gary Faria shot at close range, but Pogliacomi's parried save resulted in the ball carrying across the goal and to safety. Then Maloney took the corner, getting it to Mori whose header was over the crossbar.
Two mins later the vocal and colourful Perth contingent went wild as Maloney sent a cross to Mori who headed it goalward. Pogliacomi parried the shot but an unmarked Craig Deans arrived in time to side foot it into the net for a lead.
>From the break Perth looked determined with Mori having a chance in the 46th min. Power also wanted to get those points and in the 47th min Peter Bennett approached the ball 30m out and slammed a shot past a grasping keeper and off the crossbar, then Elrich got a cross in from the right toward Holman who was just beaten to the ball by Petkovic.
Damian Mori in the 54th min saw an opportunity and lobbed a cross to Brad Maloney whose shot from just inside the area beat the Power keeper to make it 2-0.
Perth were now on top and continued to apply pressure, however in the 60th min Holman made a great run on the right, and got in a cross but Shane Pryce intervened to knock to ball to Petkovic. If Perry Mur gave any consideration to it being an intentional back pass he gave no satisfaction to the Parramatta fans.
In the 61st min Despotovski was into the area and it was only the quick intervention of Nick Orlic that saved the day.
In the 64th min Brad Hassell received a pass from Despotovski whilst unmarked and taking a few steps he blasted the ball into the net past a hapless Pogliacomi.
Matthew Langdon started to move the his more customary left side and he got free twice in 5 mins, before he again did it. This time substitute Bradley Groves sent a pinpoint cross to Langdon lurking on the left pots and he volleyed the ball past Petkovic and into the top of the net to pull one back.
Whether Glory dropped a gear or Parramatta saw their chance to get back into contention Power lay siege to the Perth goal area with first Groves, then Elrich, having chances. It paid off in the 81st min when the indefatigable Brett Holman received from a corner on the left. And sent a pinpoint floating cross to Wayne O'Sullivan who headed it strongly over Petkovic to make it 3-2 and very interesting.
In the 84th min Holman turned toward goal about 25m out and seeing his routes clocked struck a good shot under pressure which was not far wide. Perth stung by the goal found some bite and as Power pressed up Despotovski slotted the ball across from the left to a lightly marked Nick Mrdja who took three strides away from Nick Orlic and slammed the ball into the net to make it 4-2.
Parramatta was best served by Brett Holman who ran himself into the ground and paid no attention to the status of Glory, Matthew Langdon in a new role, and Peter Bennett
Perth Glory's best were Brad Maloney, Bobby Despotovski, Brad Hassell, and Scott Miller.
Parramatta coach David Mitchell said after the game that "we played with plenty of heart and some good football." He admitted that the overseas trips by he and two players had not helped Power's play-off chances, and he answered a question about his future by saying that he will be Feyenoord's chief talent scout in Asia and Oceania.
Mich D'Avray the Glory coach said, "It is a very good feat to win the League, but we still have to do the business!" Glory was presented with the NSL Premiership trophy in the dressing rooms after the game. The large fan tour group stayed on the sing their team onto the bus.