Soccer: Perth lose their momentum after glorious start

Perth Glory coach David Mitchell. Photo / Getty Images

Perth Glory coach Dave Mitchell must be wondering just what he has to do to get a result in the A-League after the first quarter of what has been an absorbing season.

After watching his side get through the first five matches unbeaten - three wins and two draws - things have come unstuck with little going right for the West Australians.

At home to Brisbane Roar on Sunday, Mitchell had some hopes when Scott Neville headed home in the sixth minute to cancel out the cracker scored by Reinaldo to give the visitors the lead in the opening minute.

Despite half chances at both ends, there was no further scoring until the fifth minute of added time at the end of the match when Rocky Visconte managed to get a deflection which finished up in the back of the Perth net.

As Glory goalkeeper Tando Velaphi and Perth midfielder Todd Howarth flew in to dispossess him, Visconte leapt into the air to avoid the challenges. But as luck would have it, Howarth's outstretched leg collected the ball and it deflected into goal off the base of Visconte's boot.

"The boys left it late, they're killing me," joked Roar coach Ange Postecoglou. "But yeah, I thought we deserved it."

In snatching that dramatic late winner, the Roar held second place on the table behind unbeaten Adelaide, who wrapped up the abbreviated round against Sydney FC on Sunday night.

Brisbane fully deserved the points. They had a 24-6 advantage in scoring efforts - half on target - and led the corner count 10-4 on the back of the 54 per cent of the possession they enjoyed.

Central Coast Mariners also grabbed a stoppage time winner, coming from behind to beat visiting North Queensland Fury 3-2.

Simon Storey had the Fury ahead after 12 minutes. They held that advantage at the break before the Mariners hit back with goals to Matt Simon and Patricio Perez (penalty) 10 minutes apart for a 2-1 lead after 57 minutes.

The Fury then got back to 2-2 with an own goal but Patrick Zwaanswijk scored in the second minute of added time.

The round opened on Friday night in Robina where the Gold Coast beat the Wellington Phoenix 3-1 with the visitors scoring after nine minutes - a Paul Ifill penalty - but not again.