Perth Glory have moved to the top of the A-League with a 1-0 victory away at Central Coast Mariners thanks to Nebo Marinkovic's stunning first-half free kick.
The visitors began on the front foot, with Marinkovic heavily involved, as the Serbian teed up Rostyn Griffiths with a precise free kick, only for the midfielder to head wide.
The home side did threaten on the odd occasion and Anthony Caceres stung the palms of Danny Vukovic before the Glory stopper did well to smother Nathan Duke's rebound.
However, a minute before the break Marinkovic bent a curling free kick around the wall and into the top corner from 30 yards to put the visitors 1-0 ahead.
Andy Keogh was denied twice after the break and Marinkovic went close once more with another free kick as the Glory looked potent in attack.
The Mariners almost found a way back into the game when Duke fired goalwards from Matt Sim's cutback from the byline, but Vukovic parried behind and his side held on to secure their fourth win of the season.
Kristian Johnson
