2007–08 Perth Glory FC season

The 2007–08 Perth Glory FC season was the club's 11th season since its establishment in 1996. The club competed in the A-League for the 3rd time.

Perth Glory FC
2007–08 season
StadiumMembers Equity Stadium
A-League7th
A-League Pre-Season Challenge CupRunners-up
Top goalscorerLeague: Jamie Harnwell (8)
All: Jamie Harnwell (10)

The Glory finished 7th in the 2007–08 A-League season, 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

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In:

Out:

Players

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First team squad

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   AUS Jason Petkovic
2 DF   AUS Nikolai Topor-Stanley
3 DF   AUS David Tarka
4 DF   AUS Simon Colosimo
5 DF   AUS Jamie Harnwell
6 DF   AUS Dino Djulbic
7 MF   AUS Anthony Danze
8 MF   AUS David Micevski
9 FW   CRO Mate Dragičević
10 MF   AUS Billy Celeski
11 MF   AUS Stan Lazaridis
12 MF   NZL Leo Bertos
13 FW   AUS Nikita Rukavytsya
14 DF   AUS Jamie Coyne
15 MF   AUS Mitchell Prentice
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 MF   AUS Nick Rizzo
17 DF   AUS Jimmy Downey
18 DF   AUS Hayden Foxe
19 MF   AUS Naum Sekulovski
20 GK   AUS Aleks Vrteski
21 FW   ENG James Robinson
22 FW   LBR Jerry Karpeh
24 MF   AUS Jordan Simpson
25 DF   AUS Tyler Simpson
26 DF   AUS Mark Lee
27 DF   AUS Ante Kovacevic
30 GK   AUS Tando Velaphi
40 GK   AUS Danny Milosevic
50 GK   AUS Tommi Tomich

Friendlies

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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

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Round Date Home team Score Away team Crowd Stadium
1 14 July 2007 Newcastle Jets 0 - 1 Perth Glory 2,700 Port Macquarie Regional Stadium
2 20 July 2007 Adelaide United 1 - 1 Perth Glory 3,513 Hindmarsh Stadium
3 28 July 2007 Perth Glory 2 - 1 Melbourne Victory 2,700 Darwin Football Stadium
SF 4 August 2007 Central Coast Mariners 2 - 3 Perth Glory 5,967 Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium
GF 12 August 2007 Adelaide United 2 - 1 Perth Glory 9,606 Hindmarsh 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

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9 September 2007 Perth Glory   0 : 0   Sydney FC Members Equity Stadium, Perth
15:00 UTC 8 Report
Summary
Attendance: 7,907
Referee:   Craig Zetter
16 September 2007 Perth Glory   1 : 2   Queensland Roar Members 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 Glory Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
19:00 UTC 10 Petrovski   80' Report
Summary
Attendance: 9,274
Referee:   Craig Zetter
30 September 2007 Wellington Phoenix   4 : 1   Perth Glory Westpac 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
12 October 2007 Perth Glory   3 : 3   Sydney FC Members 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
27 October 2007 Queensland Roar   3 : 3   Perth Glory Suncorp 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
9 November 2007 Newcastle Jets   1 : 4   Perth Glory EnergyAustralia 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 Mariners Members Equity Stadium, Perth
19:00 UTC 9 Summary Owens   13'
Jedinak   83'   88'
Attendance: 7,310
Referee:   Craig Zetter
2 December 2007 Perth Glory   3 : 1   Melbourne Victory Members 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 Glory Westpac 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 Glory Sydney 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 Roar Members 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
13 January 2008 Perth Glory   3 : 2   Adelaide United Members 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 Glory EnergyAustralia 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

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Central Coast Mariners 21 10 4 7 30 25 5 34 Qualification for 2009 AFC Champions League group stage and Finals series[a]
2 Newcastle Jets (C) 21 9 7 5 25 21 4 34
3 Sydney FC 21 8 8 5 28 24 4 32 Qualification for 2008 Pan-Pacific Championship and Finals series
4 Queensland Roar 21 8 7 6 25 21 4 31 Qualification for 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[b] 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) Champions
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

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