Glory, Wanderers share A-League points

Nov 6, 2016 - 11:12 AM A rapid-fire goal apiece in the opening five minutes has set the tone for an entertaining 2-2 A-League draw between Perth and Western Sydney.

It took only 31 seconds for the Wanderers to open the scoring through Nicolas Martinez. The Glory answered four minutes later with an Alexander Grant header from a spot on free kick.

A Glory goal in the second half from Andy Keogh was cancelled out for Wanderers by Brendon Santalab as the two teams shared the spoils.

Glory now have two wins, two draws and a loss and will take on an unbeaten Sydney FC next Sunday on the road.

The Wanderers have just the one win and a loss along with three draws and face Melbourne Victory away on Saturday.

Sunday's nib Stadium attendance of 13,290 was over six thousand more than at the Test match at the WACA Ground (7207).

The Wanderers quickly caught Glory off guard, pushing forward before an incisive pass in-field from Mitch Nichols found Martinez unchecked.

He had time to set up his shot and delivered a cracker from well outside the box for Western Sydney's quickest A-League goal.

The joy was short-lived with Perth answering thanks to a perfect free-kick from Nebojsa Marinkovic. Grant got on the end of it to head it home to level.

Things settled the rest of the first half with Castro for Glory providing the best chances.

Glory went ahead just six minutes into the second half. A cross from Chris Harold was palmed away by Western Sydney 'keeper Andrew Redmayne but Keogh was there to pick up the scraps and tap in his fourth goal of the season.

It was then Santalab's turn to nab his fourth of the season to level scores.

He was positioned by a pass from Martinez which sliced Perth's defence. He had no trouble finishing the 67th minute ball for the final score of the contest.

Wanderers coach Tony Popovic was disappointed not to capitalise on the perfect start but getting a goal back late to split the points was pleasing.

"We'll have a look at a few things that we could have done better that probably could have got us three points with the amount of control of the match we had," Popovic said.

"But we came back from being 2-1 down which is not easy away from home so it was a good point."

Glory coach Kenny Lowe was serving the second week of his two-game suspension so was watching on from the stands. Andy Ord was in charge and felt the draw was fitting.

"I think a draw was a fair result," he said.

"I don't think we did enough to win it and I don't think they did enough to win, so on the balance of the game we probably got what we deserved."

Source: AAP