Late strike edges Roar past Glory

Queensland midfielder Matt McKay has scored a goal in the 85th minute to inspire his team to a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Perth Glory in an entertaining Hyundai A-League clash at Members Equity Stadium on Sunday.

The Glory went ahead in the 15th minute through defender-cum-striker Jamie Harnwell, who earned his first start of the season at the expense of youngster Nikita Rukavytsya, but the lead was short-lived with Roar defender Josh McCloughan tapping in the equaliser seven minutes later.

The game appeared set for a draw before some slack Glory defence and a lucky rebound allowed McKay to bang home the winner to give his team its first win of the season.

Perth skipper Simon Colosimo almost stole a point for the home side in injury time but his 20-yard strike cannoned into the post.

Queensland coach Frank Farina said he was pleased with his charges' effort after going a goal down.

"The first three weeks I've been saying we've been putting in good performances … and tonight to go a goal down and continue on in the manner we did and get two goals was pleasing," Farina said.

"I was happy for the lads because I thought they deserved it. To come back from 1-0 down is fantastic."

Perth coach Ron Smith said the expectation of snaring a home win weighed heavily on the players' mind throughout the match.

"That's a bit of football life. We won't be the first team trying to win the game and actually finish up losing it," he said.

"If I could have had a time-out I would have told them in the second half 'don't get too gung-ho trying to win the game, because it could cost us', and in the end it did."

The Glory welcomed back a host of players from national duties, with Colosimo joining midfielder Billy Celeski and defender Nikolai Topor-Stanley in the starting XI.

But it was the Roar who made the barnstorming start as Perth's defence was put under all sorts of pressure in an action-packed first half.

Glory keeper Tommi Tomich got down well to keep out Danny Tiatto's 18-yard strike in the third minute, and the custodian was forced to pull off another fine save three minutes later when Ante Milicic fired off a strike with only the keeper to beat.

But it was Perth who took the lead against the run of play when Anthony Danze found Harnwell inside the box with a beautiful chip.

Harnwell chested the ball forward and then slotted the ball past Roar keeper Liam Reddy with a lunging right boot as two defenders moved in to close him down.

A fantastic fingertip-save from Reddy kept out Glory midfielder Billy Celeski's long-range attempt in the 18th minute and the visitors soon had the game back on level pegging when McCloughan knocked home the easiest of goals in the 21st minute.

With a mass of numbers in the box, Perth's defence failed to deal with a dangerous corner and Naum Sekulovski's weak clearance off the line fell straight into the lap of McCloughan, who merely had to tap the ball forward from point-blank range to score.

Queensland controlled proceedings after the half-time break and were unlucky not to go ahead in the 51st minute when Tiatto's 22-yard thunderbolt thumped into Tomich's left post.

Danze and Jimmy Downey both spurned good chances on goal for the Glory, while at