Balcatta took advantage of a Perth Glory red card to record a 3-1 victory at Intiga Stadium yesterday.
Balcatta took advantage of a Perth Glory red card to record a 3-1 victory at Intiga Stadium yesterday.
The game dramatically changed minutes after half-time when Glory-s Blamo Qua Qua blatantly handballed just outside the penalty box.
He received a red card and the visitors capitalised moments later when Gustavo Catarcione scored after receiving a pass from captain Adam Tong.
But Glory was not perturbed with the momentum swing and responded when Bor Bor Sambindi dribbled through Balcatta-s defence and deftly passed to striker Joe Knowles, who guided the ball past lunging goalkeeper Damien Stanoevski.
Glory defended stoutly but eventually the disadvantage of being one player down took its toll.
In the 70th minute, Catarcione menaced with a penetrating run and a perfect pass found Benny Kouakou, who restored Balcatta-s lead.
Catarcione completed a fine performance when he scored after receiving a crisp pass from substitute Luke Randazzo to seal Balcatta-s victory in the 88th minute.
There had been no goals scored in a dour first half with Glory enjoying long periods of ball retention but they lacked polish with their attacking opportunities.
Sambindi and Qua Qua were showcasing their skill with numerous attacking runs but too often their passes were intercepted by Balcatta defenders.
Balcatta seemed content waiting for opportunities to counterattack but they looked threatening when they eventually moved the ball forward.
Balcatta-s defence, led by the imposing Tong and the disciplined Kieron Stallard, was resolute and resisted a number of Glory attacks.
The game opened up in the second half and so did the skies as the rain poured.
Perth Glory coach Scott Miller lamented Qua Qua-s send off.
“I thought we were comfortable and dominated the first half but a stupid error by a player, who hopefully learns from it, put us under enormous pressure,” Miller said.
“We need to improve in all technical areas because that is what the boys are here for. They are here to become footballers and hopefully we can get better every week.”
Tong said his team adjusted well after the send-off.
“We started getting forward and down the flanks, which helped us and we capitalised,” he said.
“There is room for improvement and we need to keep possession because we gave it away a bit too often.”
Perth Glory FC 1 (Joe KNOWLES 55-)
Balcatta FC 3 (Gustavo CATARCIONE 50-& 88-, Benny KOUAKOU 70-)
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Intiga Stadium, Inglewood
Kick-off: 3.00pm
Referee: Trent Fleskens
Perth Glory: 1. Fraser GREENWOOD, 2. Jacob COLLARD (17. Gian ALBANO 77-), 3. Anthony BAFABUSHA, 4. Brandon O-NEILL, 5. Josh TUCKER, 6. Blamo QUA QUA, 7. Bor Bor SAMBINDI, 8. Lawrence SHURAMA, 9. Joe KNOWLES, 10. Slob VULIN, 11. Mo BEYAN (18. Matt NTOUMENOPOLOUS 51-)
Substitutes not used: 16. Dyan WHITE, 19. Waliedin JUMA ISMAIL, 20. Luke RADONICH
Yellow cards: Joe KNOWLES (31-), Josh TUCKER (64-)
Red cards: Blamo QUA QUA (48-)
Balcatta: 1. Damien STANOEVSKI (gk), 3. Kieron STALLARD, 5. Adam TONG, 7. James SAMMUT, 8. David CYRUS, 10. Matt IZZO (9. Carlo COELHO 75-), 14. Benny KOUAKOU, 15. Marc DE FRANCESCH, 16. Alex CANIGLIA (6. Luke RANDAZZO 80-), 17. Kieran COLWELL, 19. Gustavo CATARCIONE
Substitutes not used: 12. Alex SULESKI, 13. Patrick SARA, 21. Daniel PASSARELLI
Yellow cards: David CYRUS (29-), Adam TONG (35-),
Red cards: Nil
