Things have to go horribly wrong for both teams in order to see a goalkeeper step up to the penalty spot during a pivotal shootout, doubly so if the shootout score is only 3-3 at the time. Thanks to Liam Reddy’s heroic performance, though, the A-League’s Perth Glory came out on top after a wild semifinal against Adelaide United that featured six goals in open play. Advertisement Perth were actually up 2-0 late in the second half, but a goal by Adelaide in the 81st minute and another in the dying seconds of regulation pushed the game into extra time. Perth took the lead again in the 104th minute through Scott Neville, only to see Adelaide’s Michael Marrone equalize in the 115th with a header that left Reddy flat-footed: Perth’s goalie more than made up for that moment of helplessness, though. First, he saved three penalties from Adelaide’s Isaias, Baba Diawara, and Nathan Konstandopoulos, before coolly walking up to the spot and blasting home an unstoppable penalty of his own: Reddy then stepped between the sticks one last time, diving hard to his left to deny Nikola Mileusnic of yet another equalizer, and opening the door for Joel Chianese to score the penalty that sent Perth to their first A-League Grand Final since 2012: Predictably, the Perth players and fans went nuts after Chianese’s winner: It’s good to see goalies making headlines for something other than a boner for a change. [A-League]<doc-sep>With Andrew Redmayne between the sticks, Steve Corica is confident Sydney FC will come out on top if their semi-final goes to a shootout Sydney FC coach Steve Corica is confident he’s got the goalkeeper and enough proven penalty takers to come out on top, if his side is forced into another A-League finals nailbiter with Melbourne Victory. Sydney shaded Victory 4-2 in a penalty shootout decider in the 2017 grand final and their 2018 semi-final almost produced another one, before Melbourne’s Terry Antonis scored a 117th minute winner. PREVIEW: The telling upper-hand as rivals clash in historic A-League decider Stream over 50 sports live & anytime on your TV or favourite device with KAYO SPORTS. The biggest Aussie sports and the best from overseas. Just $25/month. No lock-in contract. Get your 14 day free trial > Football’s traditional nerve-shredding tie-breaker was front and centre again in Friday’s first semi-final between Perth and Adelaide. After a 3-3 deadlock at the end of extra-time Perth Glory shaded United 5-4 in an epic 16-kick shootout at HBF Park. Perth goalkeeper Liam Reddy saved four kicks and Adelaide custodian Paul Izzo three. Veteran Reddy also scored from his spot kick. Corica wouldn’t put it past his goalkeeper Andew Redmayne to volunteer his services as a penalty taker, should the opportunity arise in Sunday’s semi-final at Sydney’s Jubilee Oval. “I wouldn’t be surprised he’s got a good strike on him, but I think we have a lot of penalty takers,’” Corica said. MORE A-LEAGUE NEWS OUT FOR VICTORY: ‘Big-name’ stars ready to roll in semi-final showdown NO ELECTION CLASH: FFA announce date of A-League Grand Final ONE FOR THE AGES! Glory win epic to secure home grand final ‘MEANWHILE, IN AUSTRALIA …’: Heroic A-League keeper goes global Englishman Adam Le Fondre has been Sydney’s first-choice this season and Milos Ninkovic, Brandon O’Neill and Alex Brosque all scored from the spot in the 2017 grand final shootout. Redmayne, who is enjoying a career-best season, has played all but three minutes across 37 matches in three competitions this season.. The 30-year-old goalkeeper, who has played at five A-League clubs, has been one of Sydney’s most consistent players this season, making numerous crucial stops including four penalty saves. Corica sad he would be very confident in Redmayne if Sunday’s game did go to a shootout. “He believes that he can save them and he’s showed it this year and I’d be very confident,” Corica said. He emphasised Redmayne and club goalkeeping coach John Crawley did their homework on the opposition’s likely penalty takers before every game. “They know who takes penalties and Redders knows which way to go if they have a favourite side,” Corica said. “He’s a very big part of it JC (Crawley), and he works very well with Redders, they have a good bond together and I think it showed this year, with the way he’s playing, he’s playing great. “His overall game has improved, he’s been fantastic for us this year Redders.” MORE PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS FINAL DAY LIVE: Ultimate Premier League climax looms REVEALED: The chain of events that would lead to PL’s first ever title play-off DOWN TO THE WIRE: Every final day scenario in pulsating PL finale ‘INFLUENCING HISTORY’: How Aussie can decide greatest ever PL race NOT JUST GOLD ON THE LINE: What can still be decided on final day PL frenzy CAN BRIGHTON HOLD CITY, WILL REDS DOWN WOLVES? Final day stats<doc-sep>04:52 Hi all! And thanks Jonathan for another sterling turn. We turn our focus to football, now - and they don’t come bigger than the Big Blue - especially a Big Blue with finals elimination on the line. Just look at last year’s remarkable clash - a night of football so remarkable it could make grown adults and nominal professionals lose themselves completely, run onto the field, and slap/choke a ginger-haired man. But that’s the past, and while re-veng-ay may be the flavour of the evening - both Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory know that looming ahead is a team that’s outperformed them both this season. But earning a ticket to test Perth in the A-League grand final is the first course of business - and standing in the way is the old enemy. Bring. It. On.<doc-sep>Departing Adelaide United coach Marco Kurz was left disgusted by what he considered an unfair advantage handed to the home side by FFA during his side’s penalty shootout loss to Perth Glory. Adelaide fought back from 2-0 down to send the semi-final into extra-time on Friday night, before also coming from behind to tie scores at 3-3 and force the game to be decided by penalties. Normally in world football, a coin toss is held to decide which end the penalty shootout will take place. But Kurz was left spitting chips when this didn’t occur with the chosen end being nominated by administrators, who elected the goal directly in front of the main Glory supporter base. A FFA spokesperson later confirmed that the A-League doesn’t use a coin toss when it comes to deciding which end a penalty shootout should be taken, instead, the end where the most fans are based is usually chosen. The FFA said both clubs were made aware of what end would be used two days before the match, but Kurz was left apparently unaware of the system used by the A-League. “The decision was done by the FFA and not from the referee, and that’s disgusting,” Kurz said. “A FFA person came down and said this side, and that was the decision, it’s not fair. “That doesn’t mean that we are a (bad) loser. Perth - congratulations, they were better in the shootout. “But we have to discuss why. What is the reason. Nobody can give me an answer. “Maybe FFA are making the rules. For me it’s new. I’m from overseas. Is it normal? “I’m an old man, but I can learn every time.” Adelaide captain Isaias had the chance to win the game during the penalty shootout, but his shot was saved by Glory goalkeeper Liam Reddy. Reddy produced four saves all up to deny Adelaide what would have been a famous win. Kurz said the players who missed penalties shouldn’t be blamed. “It’s not easy to walk to the penalty spot,” Kurz said. “Every boy who walked, how can I say it, every boy had balls when he walked to the penalty spot. “It will not be the first and not the last player who didn’t score a goal at the penalty. That’s sport.” Although Kurz came within a whisker of guiding his team to the grand final, he will be cut loose by Adelaide, who are set to announce the signing of Dutchman Gertjan Verbeek. Kurz, who guided Adelaide to the finals in each of his two seasons, says he will move back to Germany at the end of the month. He said he was proud of his team for what they achieved. “They never give up. They always fight to the end. It’s a high quality group,” Kurz said. Liam Reddy flies to his right to make a save during the penalty shootout. Photograph: David Woodley/Action Plus via Getty Images Earlier, Glory looked to have the game in the bag when Diego Castro’s second goal in the 74th minute gave the home side a 2-0 advantage at HBF Park. Substitute Papa Diawara gave Adelaide a flicker of hope when he made the most of a goalmouth scrap to score in the 81st minute. And with just six seconds left in the fourth and final minute of stoppage time, Ryan Kitto fired home the equaliser after Glory failed to clear a corner. Scott Neville then edged Glory ahead in the first period of extra-time. But Michael Marrone leveled the scores with just five minutes remaining in the contest with a powerful header. It meant the game was locked at 3-3 and would come down to a penalty shootout. And with Adelaide goalkeeper Paul Izzo nursing an ankle injury, the visitors’ hopes looked bleak. But when Izzo saved Castro’s first-up penalty in the shootout, it gave Adelaide the early advantage. Reds skipper Isaias then had the chance to almost secure the penalty shootout with the score at 3-2. Reddy pulled off a sharp save to his right to keep Glory alive, and he also denied Diawara, Nikola Mileusnic, and Nathan Konstandopoulos to give Perth a shot at victory. Izzo was a hero himself in saving Jason Davidson’s and Shane Lowry’s penalties to keep his side in the shootout. But he had no answer to Joel Chianese, who fired his penalty to the left to secure the epic win 5-4 on penalties. Perth will now play either Melbourne Victory or Sydney FC at the 60,000-seat Optus Stadium next weekend. “It was a crazy game,” Glory coach Tony Popovic said. “We learnt this week in world football that anything can happen. We led right up until the end. Adelaide showed the spirit they have - fantastic team. “They got kicked in the guts a couple of times, even in extra-time. But what can you say, the character was amazing. In the penalty shootout we stayed composed.” Popovic led the Western Sydney Wanderers to three grand finals with each of them ending in losses. Now, he has the chance to snare the champions silverware that has so far proved elusive.<doc-sep>
Perth Glory have become the first team into the A-League grand final, but only after an incredible game that finished level at 3-3 after 120 minutes before the Glory beat Adelaide United 5-4 in an extraordinary penalty shoot-out. The match had a lot to live up to after a pair of epic Champions League semi-finals in mid-week, but the drama at Perth Oval had more than enough intensity for watching fans. An electrifying 3-3 draw after extra time saw the two teams head to the penalty spot, in which even more drama unfolded. Both goalkeepers were in stunning form, combining for seven saves combined, including a run of five straight denials, with the Glory's Liam Reddy making four of them to seal his side's place in the grand final. Adelaide United knew that a loss would not only end their season but complete coach Marco Kurz's time at the club. The Glory thought they had gone ahead in the first half, when Dino Gulbis powered a header across goal only for Adelaide keeper Paul Izzo to tip it onto the bar. When the ball fell to earth it looked like it might have crossed the line, but the referee said no. He was proven right by VAR minutes later. It was agony for Adelaide United, who had a number of chances to win it during the shoot-out but could not capitalise. ( AAP: Tony McDonough Just before the half-hour mark, Perth did take the lead, when a great ball put Diego Castro through on the right, and he found a gap at the near post to score the opening goal. Loading It was 1-0 at half-time, and the second half proved to be a tight battle. It looked like Perth had wrapped it up with 16 minutes left when Castro scored his second. But substitute Papa Diawara gave Adelaide a flicker of hope when he made the most of a goal-mouth scrap to score in the 81st minute. And with just six seconds left in the fourth and final minute of stoppage time, Ryan Kitto fired home the equaliser after Glory failed to clear a corner. Scott Neville edged Glory ahead in the first period of extra time. But Marco Marrone levelled the scores with just five minutes remaining in the contest with a powerful header. It left it 3-3 after 120 minutes, but that was only the start. Adelaide had used all four substitutes, and Izzo looked like he would struggle to continue. He went down the tunnel for urgent treatment to dull the pain, before emerging for penalties. What followed in the shootout was nothing short of ridiculous. Craig Goodwin converted the opening penalty with a Panenka kick before signalling the Glory crowd to be quiet. Juande responded for Perth, then Jordan Elsey made it 2-1 to the Reds. Diego Castro celebrates scoring in regulation time for the Glory. ( AAP: Travis Anderson Next up was dual-goal hero Castro, but Izzo managed to stretch himself enough to tip the shot round the post to quieten the crowd. Vince Lia made it 3-1 to Adelaide before Brendon Santalab converted to keep the Glory in it. Loading It was still advantage Adelaide, but Liam Reddy stepped up to save from Isaias, producing a roar from the crowd. Reddy then showed his nerve to blast his own penalty into the corner for Perth, before Ben Halloran answered. Jake Brimmer's shot nestled just inside the left-hand corner for the Glory to take things to sudden death. It was then that things got crazy. Reddy saved from Diawara, then Izzo kept the Reds alive with a stop from Jason Davidson. Nikola Mileusnic failed to convert for Adelaide as the noise levels soared, but Izzo guessed right to deny Shane Lowry. It could have been a body blow for Perth but Reddy did it again, saving from Nathan Konstandopoulos. The coaches, players and fans could hardly bear to watch, but Joel Chianese ran forward and shot truly to the left side of the net to end the match, sending the Glory to the grand final and setting off amazing celebrations throughout the ground. Perth Glory will now face the winner of the second semi-final between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory. ABC/AAP