Ciaran Bramwell claimed a hat-trick as Glory fought back from three goals down to secure a remarkable 6-6 draw with Melbourne City in Saturday’s Foxtel Youth League clash at CB Smith Reserve.
The hosts were ahead early courtesy of Raphael Borges Rodrigues, before Glory’s Australia Under-17s winger Trent Ostler levelled just after the half-hour mark.
Bramwell then gave Richard Garcia’s side the lead five minutes before half time, but quickfire goals from Moudi Najjar and Kerrin Stokes ensured that City took a 3-2 lead into the break.
The game looked all but over when Stefan Colakovski scored in the first minute of the second half, only for Daniel Walsh to reduce the deficit again almost immediately when he converted Ostler’s free-kick.
A second goal to Rodrigues and another to Jordi Valadon then looked to have again put the game to bed for the hosts, but the Glory youngsters showed great resolve as Bramwell scored twice to complete his hat-trick, before Bryce Bafford levelled things up with seven minutes remaining.
And the hat-trick hero felt that his side were unfortunate not to emerge with all three points.
“It was an entertaining game,” he said, “and we showed good character to come back from 6-3 down mid-way through the second half to take a point.
“I believe we could have also got the win as we had chances to win it in the last 20 minutes, including hitting the post in the last minute.
“Although we scored six goals, it was also disappointing to concede six preventable goals, but personally for me, it was nice to get my first goals of the NYL season.”
The goal-fest got underway in the 21st minute with Rodrigues’ opener for City, before Glory hit back when Ostler eased past his marker on the bye-line and fired into the roof of the net.
The visitors then hit the front on 35 minutes, as Luke Bodnar’s cross was headed back across goal by Josh Rawlins and Bramwell lost his marker to score from close-range.
Najjar and Stokes then replied to make it 3-2 to the home side and early in the second half, Colakovsk made it 4-2.
Ostler’s free-kick was duly forced home by Walsh as Glory fought back, before City resumed control via efforts from Rodrigues and Valadon.
Undaunted, the WA side rolled up their sleeves, Bramwell scored twice in quick succession to blow the game wide open yet again and Bafford converted in a one-on-one situation to set up a frantic finale.
There was still time for more drama, Jayden Leader seeing his effort strike the woodwork, before referee Yoav Fisher brought the curtain down on a breathless 90 minutes of football.
Match Details
Melbourne City 6 (Borges Rodrigues 21’, 60’, Najjar 42’, Stokes 45+1’, Colakovski 46’, Valadon 64’)
Perth Glory 6 (Ostler 35’, Bramwell 40’, 67’, 74’, Daniel Walsh 56’, Bafford 83’)
Half time: 3-2
Venue: CB Smith Reserve
Referee: Yoav Fisher
Assistants: Peter Jaworski, William Samsa
Fourth Official: Seun Yinka-Kehinde
Melbourne City: GK Joe GAUCI, 30.Moudi NAJJAR, 35.Raphael BORGES RODRIGUES, 36.Kerrin STOKES, 44.Nicholas HATZIGEORGIOU (52.Luca TEVERE 75‎’), 45.Mark KARLIC, 48.Luke ORESTI, 49.Stefan COLAKOVSKI, 51.Akok AROK (56.Giovanniliam STELLITANO 90‎’), 54.Jordi VALADON, 57.Daniel LUCENTE (43.Alec MILLS 83‎’‎)
Substitutes not used: RGK Ahmad Taleb
Perth Glory: GK Josh LANGDON, 2. Mason TATAFU (13.Giordano COLLI 65‎’‎), 4.Riley WARLAND, 5.Daniel WALSH, 6.Luke BODNAR, 7.Dane INGHAM (17.Albert FULLARD 57‎’), 8.Jordan ABRAHAMS, 9.Bryce BAFFORD, 10.Trent OSTLER (16.Jayden LEADER 90‎+‎2‎’), 11.Joshua RAWLINS, 18.Ciaran BRAMWELL
Substitutes not used: RGK Jackson LEE ‎
#OneGlory
Picture courtesy of Tom McCarthy
