http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/6706522/Spying-claims-ahead-of-Phoenix-Glory-clash
Perth skulduggery or Phoenix paranoia?
The visitors from Wellington are adamant it was the former at their final training session on Friday, suspecting a Glory spy of filming their penalty practice.
Phoenix strength and conditioning coach Lee Taylor - who goes by the nickname 'Pitbull' - approached a man on a bank reclining directly behind the goal being used for a penalty taking session at the University of Western Australia's playing fields.
Accused by Taylor of using his phone to film their penalty session, the suspect claimed he was in fact filming an athletics training routine that was being run concurrently.
The Phoenix, who started mixing up the direction of their penalty shots, were not convinced.
"A little bit cheeky, apparently he's got a camera and he's filming our penalties so we might have to switch our penalty takers," said Phoenix captain Andrew Durante.
"But finals football, these things come into it and there's all kinds of little shenanigans going on. We're as prepared as we can be."
Quipped coach Ricki Herbert: "What a great story it will be if we win on penalties."
The third-ranked Glory host the fourth-ranked Phoenix in the A-League minor semifinal at nib Stadium on Saturday night, with the winner advancing to a preliminary final against either Central Coast or Brisbane.
As a sudden-death game, the result will be settled from the penalty spot should the scores be locked at the end of regulation and then extra time.
The Phoenix beat Perth on penalties in an elimination final in Wellington two years ago.
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