Glory end Melbourne City’s season to set up Sydney FC showdown

MELBOURNE: Perth Glory will play Sydney FC for a place in the Australian A-League grand final after ending Melbourne City’s season in Melbourne on Sunday. Glory rocked the expensively assembled City team 2-0 with first-half goals from Spaniard Diego Castro and Joel Chianese. Brisbane Roar will play Melbourne Victory in next weekend’s other semi-final after beating Western Sydney Wanderers 6-5 on penalties after the scores were locked at 1-1 after extra time in Friday’s other elimination final. Glory reached the A-League final four for the first time in five years and they will take on the Sky Blues in Sydney on Saturday. Sydney FC finished the regular season with a record 66 points to finish 17 points clear of their nearest rivals Melbourne Victory after the 27 regular season rounds. Castro was irresistible in the first half scoring a sublime opener in the 16th minute after being released by Irish striker Andy Keogh. Chinese finished clinically on the half-hour after receiving the ball on the right from a Castro pass. It was a dismal end to the season for Melbourne City, who won the FFA Cup earlier in the season, but never recovered from the mid-season departure of Dutch manager John van t’Schip. Interim manager Michael Valkanis is expected to make way for a full-time manager for next season with a likely team re-build likely in the off-season. Roar won Friday’s penalty shoot-out in Brisbane when Japanese attacker Jumpei Kusukami had his attempt saved by Roar’s English goalkeeper Jamie Young after 11 successful spots kicks. The A-League grand final is on May 7. — AFP