Late Salmon double nets point for Glory
Report by Peter Simcox
Glory's Ethan Brooks (left) and ECU defender Andy Higgins. Photo by Peter Simcox
A goal four minutes into stoppage time from substitute Luke Salmon gave Perth Glory an unlikely 2-2 draw at ECU Joondalup on Saturday afternoon.
The home side went ahead early with Czech striker Jakub Sklenar on target, before former Glory striker Joe Knowles added a second from the spot.
But Salmon, who came off the bench just before the hour, pulled one back three minutes from time, and his equaliser came with the last action of the game.
The home side, who are still looking for their first win of the season, made a perfect start after only five minutes. Knowles eased past his marker and his ball into the box was turned home by Sklenar.
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Glory looked for an immediate response and former ECU Joondalup winger Ethan Brooks shot on the run was saved by keeper Scott Wallis, before Gabriel Popovic headed over.
On 52 minutes ECU doubled their lead. Sklenar sent Knowles in on goal and he was brought down by Glory keeper Jackson Lee. Referee Josh Mannella pointed to the spot and Knowles, who missed a penalty against Sorrento in Round Two, made no mistake this time.
ECU went close to a third but Richard Howles’ shot was cleared off the line by the alert Zayd Farah.
Then with the home side sitting back, Salmon struck from close range to set up a grandstand finish. And on 94 minutes Glory levelled when the outstanding Brooks crossed for Salmon to net his second.
Star player: Ethan Brooks (Perth Glory)
ECU Joondalup 2 (Sklenar 5min, Knowles 52 pen)
Perth Glory 2 (Salmon 87, 90+4)
ECU Football Stadium
Saturday, 6 April, 2019
Kick-off: 3.00pm
Referee: Josh Mannella
Assistant referees: Thomas Robinson, Jamie West
ECU Joondalup: GK Scott WALLIS, 2 Cian HIRRELL, 3 Ronald RIXER, 4 Henry DURR, 6 Bayley BROWN-MONTGOMERY (14 Kian McGUIGAN 59), 7 Joe KNOWLES, 9 Richard HOWLES (17 Ben HINSLEWOOD 71), 10 Andy HIGGINS, 11 Jakub SKLENAR (12 Ryan McDARBY 80), 15 Tom HOUGH, 16 Ewen FAWCETT
Substitutes not used: RGK George JACKSON, 8 Harry EDWARDS
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil
Perth Glory: GK Jackson LEE, 2 Zayd FARAH, 3 Walter SCOTT, 4 Jacob MUIR (13 Daniel WALSH 53), 5 Nick WALSH, 6 Kristian POPOVIC, 7 Ethan BROOKS, 8 Henry HORE, 9 Gabriel POPOVIC (14 Luke SALMON 53), 10 Daniel STYNES, 11 Jacob ITALIANO (16 Gomo DUKULY 71)
Substitutes not used: RGK Nicholas SPECCA, 12 Aiden EDWARDS, 13 Jack LEECH
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil
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