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.
| 2007–08 season | |
|---|---|
| Stadium | Members Equity Stadium |
| A-League | 7th |
| A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup | Runners-up |
| Top goalscorer | League: 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 edit
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In:
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Out:
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Players edit
First team squad edit
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Friendlies edit
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 edit
| 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 edit
| 26 August 2007 | Perth Glory  | 0 : 0 |  Newcastle Jets | Members Equity Stadium, Perth |
| 15:00 UTC+8 | Report Summary |
Attendance: 8,508 Referee:  Simon Przydacz |
| 1 September 2007 | Melbourne Victory  | 0 : 0 | Perth Glory | Telstra Dome, Melbourne |
| 19:00 UTC+10 | Report Summary |
Attendance: 31,545 Referee:  Peter O'Leary |
| 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 |
| 7 October 2007 | Perth Glory | 0 : 0 |  Adelaide United | Members Equity Stadium, Perth |
| 17:00 UTC+8 | Report Summary |
Attendance: 6,252 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 |
| 21 October 2007 | Melbourne Victory | 2 : 1 | Perth Glory | Telstra 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 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 |
| 2 November 2007 | Perth Glory | 0 : 1 | Wellington Phoenix | Members 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 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 |
| 23 November 2007 | Adelaide United | 1 : 1 | Perth Glory | Hindmarsh 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 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 |
| 6 January 2008 | Perth Glory | 1 : 1 | Central Coast Mariners | Members 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 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 edit
| 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 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions
Notes:
- ^ 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. - ^ Wellington Phoenix cannot qualify for the AFC Champions League as they are not recognised as an AFC club.