Perth Glory draw 2-2 with Western Sydney Wanderers in thriller

Perth Glory and Western Sydney Wanderers have played out a 2-2 draw in an absorbing Hyundai A-League clash at nib Stadium on Sunday.

In a frantic opening, both sides found the back of the net inside five minutes.

Nico Martinez scored the fastest goal in Wanderers Hyundai A-League history to put the visitors in front inside the first minute. But defender Alex Grant’s towering header soon after drew Glory before Andy Keogh edged the home side in front early in the second half. Brendon Santalab then ensured the Wanderers would secure their third consecutive draw with a superb equaliser midway through the second half. The stalemate means Glory missed the chance to move into second spot, sitting in fourth, while the Wanderers end the weekend in sixth.

GOALS
 0-1 Wanderers: Nico Martinez, 1’ 
Mitch Nichols found a pocket of space in Glory’s half and fed it to Martinez, who let fly from 25 yards out, with the ball going through the legs of a defender and arrowing into the bottom corner of the net. 

1-1 Glory: Alex Grant, 5’ 
Nebojsa Marinkovic’s delivery from a free-kick wide out on the right was perfect, with the young defender attacking the ball and getting up highest to plant his header into the corner. 

2-1 Glory: Andy Keogh, 51’ 
Josh Risdon and Chris Harold combined down the right, with the latter driving to the byline and getting a cross in. Wanderers keeper Andrew Redmayne got a glove on the ball but only diverted it into the path of Keogh, who produced a clinical side-footed finish.

 2-2 Wanderers: Brendon Santalab, 67’ 
Martinez was given time to face forward about 30 yards from goal and he played a great pass in behind for Santalab to chase and the striker produced an excellent finish past Liam Reddy from a tough angle.

2:41 AM