Perth Glory FC has lifted the inaugural Heritage Cup, after claiming a 1-0 victory over the West Australian State XI in rainy conditions at Inglewood Stadium.
Chris Harold scored the solitary goal in first half stoppage time, after taking a deft touch from a cross from the left, stabbing the ball past WA goalkeeper Francis Soale on his second touch at the far post.
The second half was much less frenetic, with both sides defending well in calmer conditions to round off a hard-fought victory for Perth Glory.
Glory will next face Iraq’s national team in a closed friendly at Dalmatinac Park on August 25.
Perth’s next public outing will be against Sydney FC in the Round of 16 FFA Cup at Dorrien Gardens on August 30.
Highlights:
First Half:
1’ Knowles squares one towards Keogh but it’s cleared away.
2’ Marinkovic sends his free kick from 25 metres out inches wide of the top right corner.
5’ The State Team whip in a cross, but Gordon Smith’s header is tame and straight at goalkeeper Nick Feely.
14’ Healing tries a curler from outside the box but it’s well wide of the far post.
16’ Smith fires from distance but it trickles to Feely, comfortably saved.
17’ Matthew Sparrow finds an opening on the top of the box, but his shot is slammed well over Feely’s bar.
25’ Sam Mitchinson whips one onto the head of Smith, he redirects his header into the arms of Feely once again.
27’ Andy Keogh tries a strike on the turn from the edge of the box, but it bobbled wide of Soale’s goal.
33’ Nebojsa Marinkovic fires his next free kick just over the cross bar, Soale had it covered.
35’ Marinkovic crosses a perfect ball into the path of Dino Djulbic, but the big defender can only get his studs on it as a goal kick is awarded.
43’ Smith fires a vicious shot towards the top right corner, Feely produces a remarkable save to tip it over the crossbar.
45+2’ Chris Harold opens the scoring. Warren whips in a ball from the left, Harold takes a deft touch before stabbing home past Soale into the far bottom corner.
Second Half:
48’ Mills cuts in from the right and fires a shot at the bottom left corner, Lewis Italiano tips it around the post for a corner.
50’ Nebo slams a free kick from 40 metres out just over Italiano’s cross bar.
53’ Keogh tees up Mills in the box, but the Englishman’s strike curls over Italiano’s crossbar.
60’ Oxborrow crosses a ball onto the head of Rhys Williams, but the former Middlesborough captain’s header sails over the top of the goals.
69’ Knowles turns inside his marker and places his well-struck shot just wide of the far post.
79’ Oxborrow strikes powerfully on target, but Adam Tong is there to block the shot well.
80’ Mills fires a powerful shot across goal, Italiano makes a strong save to palm away from danger.
90+1’ Trent Kay heads on target from a looping cross, it bounces safely into the hands of Feely.
90+3’ Oxborrow’s strong shot deflects off a WA defender and lands on top of Italiano’s goal.
Teams:
Perth Glory : 40. Nick FEELY, 3. Marc WARREN, 5. Rhys WILLIAMS, 6. Dino DJULBIC, 8. Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 9. Andy KEOGH, 10. Nebojsa MARINKOVIC, 14. Chris HAROLD, 18. Mitch OXBORROW, 19. Josh RISDON, 28. Joseph KNOWLES.
Subs used: 20. Aryn WILLIAMS, 15. Brandon WILSON, 21. Jamal REINERS, 16. Joseph MILLS, 23. Kosta PETRATOS, 11. Richard GARCIA.
Unused subs: 33. Liam REDDY
WA State Team: 1. Francis SOALE (GK), 2. Ryan PEARSON, 6. Clark KELTIE (C), 7. Matthew SPARROW, 9. Gordon SMITH, 11. Ellis HEALING, 13. Teeboy KAMARA, 15. Sam MITCHINSON, 17. David HEAGNEY, 19. Ryan LOWRY, 22. Chris SALDARIS.
Subs used: 4. Trent KAY, 5. Adam TONG, 8. Cameron EDWARDS, 10. Jason MIRCO, 12. Paul MCCARTHY, 16. Lewis ITALIANO (GK), 18. Niccolo SABATINI, 20. Jonathan STYNES.
Unused subs: nil.
