2007–08 Perth Glory FC season

The Perth Glory finished 7th in the 2007-08 A-League competition making them the worst Australian team in the A-League, for the second consecutive season. Given the team's promising pre-season performances, expectations at the club were to achieve a Top 4 finish, or to at least significantly improve over the performance in the previous A-League season. After a poor start to the season, without a win after the first 11 games and Glory winless for 18 consecutive A-League matches, coach Ron Smith departed[1] and assistant coach, David Mitchell took over for the rest of the season. After 2 wins from his first 4 games in charge, Mitchell was rewarded by having his contract extended till the end of the 2008-09 Season.[2]

Squad changes for 2007-08 season

In:

Out:

Friendlies

Malaysian Tour

Perth Glory began their pre-season with three preseason friendlies in Malaysia. Firstly the team defeated Selangor PKNS 3-0 with goals to David Tarka, Naum Sekulovski and Anthony Danze. Perth then moved on to sweep Perak FA 4-0 with a brace to both Nikita Rukavytsya and Jamie Harnwell. Finally, Perth defeated Penang FA 5-1 with another brace to Rukavytsya and goals to Nick Rizzo, Danze and Mate Dragičević.

Local Friendlies

Following the tour of Malaysia, the Perth Glory squad was hit hard by injuries and illness, ahead of a planned series of games against Football West State League sides. Nikolai Topor-Stanley was granted leave due to personal issues, while Mate Dragičević was forced to return to Croatia as a result of visa complications. With only twelve players to call on, Perth Glory succumbed to a 2-1 defeat to Perth SC, with Rukavytsya scoring early in the second half. Perth Glory postponed the remaining friendlies, citing the depletion of their playing stocks.

Pre-Season Cup
RoundDateHome TeamScoreAway TeamCrowdStadium
1 14 July 2007Newcastle Jets0 - 1Perth Glory2,700Port Macquarie Regional Stadium
2 20 July 2007Adelaide United1 - 1Perth Glory3,513Hindmarsh Stadium
3 28 July 2007Perth Glory2 - 1Melbourne Victory2,700Darwin Football Stadium
SF 4 August 2007Central Coast Mariners2 - 3Perth Glory5,967Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium
GF 12 August 2007Adelaide United2 - 1Perth Glory9,606Hindmarsh Stadium

Perth Glory began their Pre-Season Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Newcastle Jets. Jamie Harnwell scored in the second half. However, Perth's injury problems were compounded with Anthony Danze and David Micevski the latest players to be put out of action. Perth Glory rushed to sign Mitchell Prentice ahead of the match in order to boost their playing stocks.

The following week, Perth Glory drew 1-1 with Adelaide United. Nikita Rukavytsya scored in the 53rd minute after being played through by a Jamie Harnwell backheel. Cássio equalised in the 60th minute via a well-taken freekick. Hayden Foxe and Nikolai Topor-Stanley made their debuts for the Glory, with Foxe substituted in the 73rd minute due to a minor knee complaint.

In the third round Perth Glory staged a come-from-behind victory over Melbourne Victory to win 2-1 in Darwin. Nikita Rukavytsya and Jamie Harnwell were the goalscorers. Perth Glory finished equal with Adelaide United on points and second in the group due to goal difference, despite winning the most games in the group.

Perth Glory progressed to the pre-season grand final with a 2-3 away victory to the Central Coast Mariners. Dragicevic opened the scoring for the Glory, with Nick Mrdja equalising before half-time. Goals to Bertos and Tarka in the second half sealed the victory for the Glory, with Sasho Petrovski scoring a consolation goal deep in injury time.

Once again forced to travel interstate, Perth Glory lost the pre-season cup grand final to Adelaide United. Perth led at half-time through a Leo Bertos strike, but second half goals to Cássio and Bruce Djite saw Adelaide take the pre-season cup.

2007-08 Hyundai A-League fixtures
26 August 2007 Perth Glory 0 : 0 Newcastle JetsMembers Equity Stadium, Perth
15:00 UTC+8 Report
Summary		 Attendance: 8,508
Referee: Simon Przydacz
1 September 2007 Melbourne Victory 0 : 0 Perth GloryTelstra Dome, Melbourne
19:00 UTC+10 Report
Summary		 Attendance: 31,545
Referee: Peter O'Leary
9 September 2007 Perth Glory 0 : 0 Sydney FCMembers Equity Stadium, Perth
15:00 UTC+8 Report
Summary		 Attendance: 7,907
Referee: Craig Zetter
16 September 2007 Perth Glory 1 : 2 Queensland RoarMembers Equity Stadium, Perth
17:00 UTC+8 Harnwell  14' Report
Summary		 McCloughan  21'
McKay  84'		 Attendance: 7,203
Referee: Ben Williams
23 September 2007 Central Coast Mariners 1 : 0 Perth GloryBluetongue Stadium, Gosford
19:00 UTC+10 Petrovski  80' Report
Summary		 Attendance: 9,274
Referee: Craig Zetter
30 September 2007 Wellington Phoenix 4 : 1 Perth GloryWestpac Stadium, Wellington
17:00 UTC+12 R.Aloisi  14'
Smeltz  42'
Coveny  55'
Lochhead  83'		 Report
Summary		 Celeski  10'
Djulbic  46'  54'		 Attendance: 10,127
Referee: Peter Green
7 October 2007 Perth Glory 0 : 0 Adelaide UnitedMembers Equity Stadium, Perth
17:00 UTC+8 Report
Summary		 Attendance: 6,252
Referee: Peter Green
12 October 2007 Perth Glory 3 : 3 Sydney FCMembers Equity Stadium, Perth
20:00 UTC+8 Harnwell  53'
Robinson  59'
Prentice  69'		 Report
Summary		 Brosque  40', 90+3'
Patrick  72'		 Attendance: 6,876
Referee: Matthew Breeze
21 October 2007 Melbourne Victory 2 : 1 Perth GloryTelstra Dome, Melbourne
16:30 UTC+10 Hernandez  24'
Thompson  34'		 Report
Summary		 Harnwell  42' Attendance: 25,598
Referee: Simon Przydacz
27 October 2007 Queensland Roar 3 : 3 Perth GlorySuncorp Stadium, Brisbane
19:00 UTC+10 Marcinho  45+3'
Lynch  69' (pen.), 86'		 Report
Summary		 Moore  18' (o.g.)
Harnwell  43'
Coyne  90+3'		 Attendance: 16,715
Referee: Ben Williams
2 November 2007 Perth Glory 0 : 1 Wellington PhoenixMembers Equity Stadium, Perth
20:00 UTC+9 Report
Summary		 Daniel  51' Attendance: 7,105
Referee: Simon Przydacz
9 November 2007 Newcastle Jets 1 : 4 Perth GloryEnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle
20:00 UTC+11 J. Griffiths  49' Report
Summary		 Durante  25' (o.g.)
J. Simpson  51'
Rukavytsya  63', 90+1'		 Attendance: 8,112
Referee: Peter Green
18 November 2007 Perth Glory 0 : 1 Central Coast MarinersMembers Equity Stadium, Perth
19:00 UTC+9 Summary Owens  13'
Jedinak  83'  88'		 Attendance: 7,310
Referee: Craig Zetter
23 November 2007 Adelaide United 1 : 1 Perth GloryHindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
19:30 UTC+10:30 Alagich  41' Report
Summary		 Harnwell  68' Attendance: 10,678
Referee: Peter O'Leary
2 December 2007 Perth Glory 3 : 1 Melbourne VictoryMembers Equity Stadium, Perth
17:00 UTC+9 Harnwell  18'
Rukavytsya  27', 46'		 Report
Summary		 Caceres  38' Attendance: 8,030
Referee: Ben Williams
7 December 2007 Wellington Phoenix 3 : 0 Perth GloryWestpac Stadium, Wellington
19:00 UTC+12 Smeltz  29' (pen.), 72'
Felipe  32'		 Report
Summary		 Topor-Stanley  27'
Harnwell  74'		 Attendance: 8,039
Referee: Strebre Delovski
15 December 2007 Sydney FC 2 : 4 Perth GlorySydney Football Stadium, Sydney
19:00 UTC+11 Corica  50'
Bridges  90'		 Report
Summary		 Celeski  34', 35', 77' (pen.)
Bertos  49'		 Attendance: 12,402
Referee: Michael Hester
30 December 2007 Perth Glory 1 : 4 Queensland RoarMembers Equity Stadium, Perth
19:00 UTC+9 Rizzo  57' Report
Summary		 Kruse  34'
Reinaldo  42'
Minniecon  59'
McCloughan  74'		 Attendance: 9,614
Referee: Peter Green
6 January 2008 Perth Glory 1 : 1 Central Coast MarinersMembers Equity Stadium, Perth
19:00 UTC+9 Rukavytsya  69' Report
Summary		 Hutchinson  38' Attendance: 6,727
Referee: Strebre Delovski
13 January 2008 Perth Glory 3 : 2 Adelaide UnitedMembers Equity Stadium, Perth
19:00 UTC+9 Robinson  12'
Rukavytsya  45+1'
Harnwell  62'		 Report
Summary		 Djité  8'
Dodd  59'		 Attendance: 8,025
Referee: Ben Williams
18 January 2008 Newcastle Jets 2 : 1 Perth GloryEnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle
20:00 UTC+11 J. Griffiths  22'
Bridge  64'		 Report
Summary		 Rizzo  37'
Harnwell  45+2'		 Attendance: 16,212
Referee: Michael Hester

Home-and-Away Season
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Central Coast Mariners 21 10 4 7 30 25 +5 34 Finals Series and 2009 AFC Champions League Group stage[lower-alpha 1]
2 Newcastle Jets (C) 21 9 7 5 25 21 +4 34
3 Sydney FC 21 8 8 5 28 24 +4 32 Finals Series and 2008 Pan-Pacific Championship
4 Queensland Roar 21 8 7 6 25 21 +4 31 Finals Series
5 Melbourne Victory 21 6 9 6 29 29 0 27
6 Adelaide United 21 6 8 7 31 29 +2 26
7 Perth Glory 21 4 8 9 27 34 −7 20
8 Wellington Phoenix[lower-alpha 2] 21 5 5 11 25 37 −12 20
Source: ultimatealeague.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion.
Notes:
  1. First place qualifies for the 2009 AFC Champions League Group stage.
    Winning the 2008 A-League Grand Final earns qualification for the 2009 AFC Champions League Group stage, unless the Grand Final winners are also first place, in which case the Grand Final runner up qualifies.
  2. Wellington Phoenix cannot qualify for the AFC Champions League as they are not recognised as an AFC club.

Notes and references
  1. Smith sacked by Glory
  2. Mitchell Rewarded By Glory
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