Perth Glory have a chance at redemption for losing last
year's FFA Cup final after advancing to the 2015 decider following a 3-1 win
over Melbourne City in the semi-final at nib Stadium.
Glory's Gyorgy Sandor opened the scoring before City
levelled courtesy of debutant Matthew Millar.
Perth led 2-1 at halftime following an own goal, and Chris
Harold delivered the sealer for the home side in the 72nd minute.
Glory were the better side, despite the brilliance of Aaron
Mooy again for City, and they play the winner of next Wednesday's other
semi-final between Melbourne Victory and Hume City.
The final takes place Saturday, November 7.
Both sides came out playing attacking football in the first
half of Wednesday night's match, with Sandor opening the scoring in the 24th
minute.
It was the Hungarian's third goal in three appearances, and
it was a cool finish as he picked up the save by City 'keeper Tando Velaphi
following an on-target header by Harold.
Mooy continued to be a threat for City and it was another
on-point corner that saw Millar take advantage and score with a header.
The first half ended in bizarre fashion with an own goal to
Glory after City defender Ben Garuccio chipped the ball away from Perth striker
Guyon Fernandez, but put it over his own 'keeper, Thomas Sorensen, who had
replaced Velaphi after a nasty clash of heads with Fernandez.
City were inches away from an equaliser in the 71st minute
with a cracking strike by Mooy, and then just wide in a follow up by David
Williams.
Straight away Perth went up the other end, and, with
Spaniard Diego Castro setting him up, Harold put a shot under Sorensen to put
the Glory into a second straight FFA Cup final after losing to Adelaide United
last year.
Dino Djulbic was Glory captain, with usual skipper Richard
Garcia suspended, and delighted to have led the side into the final.
"It's massive and at the moment it's the biggest thing,
and closest and quickest way to win a trophy. To bring a trophy to Perth would
be unbelievable," Djulbic said.
"The fans and everyone deserves it and the boys have
worked hard. We've played 120 minutes nearly every game except this one, that's
how much we want it."
City coach John Van't Schip was disappointed to lose, but
quickly turned his attention to Sunday's A-League clash with Central Coast at
AAMI Park.
"Of course it's disappointing that we didn't achieve
what we wanted and that was getting into the final," Van't Schip said.
"In the first half, we played OK and created chances,
but there was a difficult moment just before halftime and Tando had to go off
injured.
"In the second half, we lost our structure and we
chased too much instead of building."
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