Perth Glory moved into the last sixteen of the Westfield FFA Cup after a hard fought 2-0 win against fellow A-League side, Newcastle Jets, at Magic Park. New Republic of Ireland international striker Andy Keogh was the hero, with the former Wolverhampton Wanderers, Millwall and Blackpool player bagging a goal in each half.
Glory assistant coach Andrew Ord said the new-look side was starting to gel, and would benefit from having at least one more competitive fixture in the FFA Cup before the A-League season begins in October.
“We’re at the start of the process and we have to be pleased with the improvement,” Ord said.
“We’ve had friendly games and they’ve been mixed performances and results, but in the game where we’ve needed to get a result, we have done, that’s probably the most important thing.”
The home side opened brightly and Craig Goodwin made space down the left after only three minutes, but his cross shot hit the side netting. The Glory looked solid and dominated possession but couldn’t find a way past a Jets defence, with former Perth Soccer Club and Socceroos defender Julian Madaschi at the heart of the back four.
The Glory still looked dangerous on the break, and on the quarter hour Richard Garcia was sent clear down the right, his cross was claimed by Jets custodian Ben Kennedy under pressure from Keogh.
Glory keeper Danny Vukovic had to be alert moments later, saving well from Joel Griffiths’ free kick from the edge of the penalty area.
But on 20 minutes the Glory hit the front. Brazilian winger Sidnei Sciola crossed to Keogh on the edge of the penalty area, and the new striker fired home off the underside of the crossbar, and the official gave the goal despite the Jets protests.
It was almost 2-0 seven minutes later. Sidnei got the better of his marker before crossing into the penalty area, and Keogh was only inches away in the penalty area.
The home side continuing to press and went close to levelling on the half hour. New signing Jeronimo Neumann’s long-range shot beat Vukovic, but the crossbar came to the Glory’s rescue.
It was the Argentina striker again moments later, he raced clear from Griffiths’ slide rule pass, but with just Vukovic to beat the former Adelaide United striker fired wide.
The Glory went close to doubling their lead five minutes before the break. Serbian midfielder, Nebosja Marinkovic, curling his long-range free kick inches past the post, but at half time it was the Glory with the lead.
After the break it was the Glory that went close to a second four minutes in. Mitch Nichols playing a great ball into Keogh, but his low shot hit the side netting.
The home side were still in the game and pressed for the equaliser, and Vukovic saved well from Jonathan Steele on 68 minutes, after he was sent clear by Goodwin.
It was end to end with chances at both ends. Keogh’s snap shot from the edge of the penalty flashed wide of the target, before Vukovic saved well from Steele’s powerful shot moments later.
With the Jets pushing men forward they were getting caught out by the Glory on the counter attack, and with ten minutes remaining Sidnei played Nichols in on goal, but the former Melbourne Victory midfielder fired wide.
But with three minutes remaining the Glory wrapped up the tie. Nichols squaring the ball to Keogh, and the unmarked striker fired low past Kennedy from close-range.
Ord was delighted with the clean sheet, especially with skipper Michael Thwaite unavailable. “We didn’t concede and they applied a fair bit of pressure at 1-0,” he said.
“I think last year maybe we would’ve crumbled away from home but we weathered the storm.
“Even though we weren’t fluid today, it wasn’t the sort of game where it was going to be little triangles all the time and neat passing.
“We always looked threatening. Even when we were under the pump a little bit, we still had the players that could make the other team think and put them on the back foot.”
FFA Cup Round of 32
Tuesday 5th August 2014
Newcastle Jets 0
Perth Glory 2 (Keogh 20’, 87’)
Magic Park
Attendance: 2,877
Newcastle Jets: GK Ben KENNEDY, 2 Sam GALLAWAY, 4 Kew JALIENS, 6 Ben KANTAROVSKI, 8 Jonathan STEELE (18 Brandon LUNDY 74’), 10 Joel GRIFFITHS, 11 Craig GOODWIN, 12 Adrian MADASCHI (2 Taylor REGAN 69’), 14 Jeronimo NEUMANN, 16 Jacob PEPPER, 19 Sam GALLAGHER (17 James VIRGILI
Subs: RGK John SOLARI, 13 Josh BARRESI
Yellow Cards: Jaliens 35’, Steele 75’
Perth Glory: GK Daniel VUKOVIC, 2 Jack CLISBY, 6 Dino DJULBIC, 9 Andrew KEOGH, 10 Nebosja MARINKOVIC, (3 Brandon O’NEILL 85’), 11 Richard GARCIA, 13 Diogo FERREIRA, 16 Sidnei Sciola MORAES, 17 Mitch NICHOLAS, 19 Josh RISDON, 21 Scott JAMIESON
Subs: RGK Jack DUNCAN, 14 Chris HAROLD, 15 Jamie MACLAREN, 25 Riley WOODCOCK
Yellow Cards – Clisby 45+1”
