PERTH Glory drew 0-0 with Sydney FC in a scrappy clash at Members Equity Stadium. Both sides created chances but some poor finishing ensured the encounter would end goalless.


Debut keeper Matthew Nash was one of Sydney's stars with an assured performance in the sticks for Socceroo call up Clint Bolton.

Captain Tony Popovic battled away in defence despite clearly not being 100% fit while striker David Zdrilic created at least five good opportunities to get on the scoresheet.

For Glory, Naum Sekulovski was impressive as a wideman while substitute Jordan Simpson came on and made an impression in the second half. But the inability to finish must be a concern to both coaches.

Despite this, it was a fairly free-flowing affair with both sides playing open football, it was just the finishing that was lacking much to the chagrin of the just under 8,000 fans.

Sydney striker David Zdrilic said after the game: "We had a few chances and on another day we could've got a win. In saying that, considering the circumstances, I guess it's okay.

"You just gotta keep going and sooner or later it's going to fall."

Jamie Harnwell of Glory told Fox Sports: "At the time I've been on the park I've done as much as anyone has. I just wanted a fair go.

"It's good to know you've got the support of the fans," he added of the fans' roar when he came on in the second half.

Sadly for Glory, he couldn't find the net in a game that was crying out for players to finish.

It had started so positively for the home side. Glory began the game strongly in the opening minutes of the game as they took the game to the visitors who had a tentative looking Popovic in a back three with Rudan and Fyfe.

Most of Glory's thrust was down Sydney's right. Middleby and Fyfe cleared their lines with defensive headers from Sekulovski and Rukyvytsa getting a couple of deliveries in early.

Sydney hit back with an excellent free kick with little back lift from Talay, which was parried by Tomich and cleared by Glory for a corner.

Shortly after, Zdrilic had a great opportunity to open the scoring. A brilliant cross from Corica found the head of the striker but under pressure from a flapping Tomich he couldn't steer his header home.

On 22 minutes Glory hit back with a brilliant move which was worked wide then inside before Anthony Danze smashed the ball just wide from 25 yards out.

Zdrilic and Patrick were working hard upfront but Glory was dominating the midfield and chances were hard to come by for the visitors.

Rizzo had a call for a penalty while Dragicevic also had a shot on target as Glory maintained their high tempo game.

Glory had a great opportunity on 30 minutes. Rukyvytsa won a free kick on the edge of the box against Iain Fyfe. Rizzo was on target with the kick but Matthew Nash got down well to save.

In the final ten minutes of the half, Glory appeared to lose their way somewhat with Sydney working very hard to try to regain some control of a half that had been dominated by the home side.

Sydney's Steve Corica had the first real opportunity to score early in the second half with a strong shot from just outside the box but Tomich easily held onto the ball.

Glory striker Dragicevic also missed a good chance when a cross from the right but he failed to capitalise.

And minutes later, Zdrilic picked up the ball from just outside the box after good lead up work from Patrick but he blasted over. This was the story of the match.

Tyler Simpson and Zdrilic were involved in a scuffle on the 60 minute mark with the Glory man getting a yellow card as the game heated up as both sides appeared frustrated at their inability to get on the scoreboard.

Bertos though should've got on the scoreboard after 63 minutes. He carved up the Sydney defence wide on the right but screwed his low shot past the post.

The former Glory captain Jamie Harnwell was injected into the game as a striker on 64 minutes. The home fans loved that move while Prentice was also given a spell.

Rudan began pushing forward as Casey came off and Micky Enfield came on for his debut in the A-League. From Rudan's long ball, Patrick got on the end of it but his soft header was easily taken by Tomich.

Zdrilic had another decent chance on 67 minutes but just slotted his low shot past the post.

Harnwell however could've scored six minutes later after a Rukyvytsa run ended up with a header that looped over.

Tomich flapped at a great Corica cross with 15 minutes to go, but Sydney couldn't get a boot or head on it.

Shortly after, Jordan Simpson burst through the FC defence but once again after a one-two a good opportunity was squandered when the tall midfielder shot wide.

The game petered out in the final moments as both sides looked destined to miss out on their first win of the season.

FourFourTwo Says:
A game that promised so much petered out into a drab advert for A-League football. One bright spot was the performance of Sydney's Matthew Nash, who looked like he'd been playing A-League football all his life. That aside, there was very little to get excited about.