Perth Glory FC has climbed further up the Hyundai A-League ladder, moving into fifth spot, after thumping a nine-man Central Coast Mariners 4-0.
The night was dedicated to the memory of talented Perth born footballer Dylan Tombides who lost his battle to testicular cancer in 2014. Earlier this week his family commemorated what would have been his 22nd birthday.
The strong crowd of 11,127 stood in applause during the 38th minute in honour of the player’s shirt number which has since been retired by his English football club West Ham United.
It took Glory just under four minutes to open the scoring, as Perth’s marquee man Diego Castro fired the home side ahead. Chris Harold was chopped down in the box after a darting run and Castro made no mistake from the spot, sending Mariners’ keeper Paul Izzo the wrong way and sending the Glory faithful into raptures.
The score-line didn’t change for the rest of the half but there was more to come in the second.
Mariners’ young gun Mitch Austin was sent off for a second-bookable offence in the 48th minute and Andy Keogh doubled Glory’s lead. Man of the Match Josh Risdon’s pinpoint cross found the Irishman in the six-yard-box, and buried a well-placed header past a helpless Izzo.
Former Liverpool star Luis Garcia was next to walk down the tunnel after picking up a second yellow card for a late challenge in the 54th minute on Kristian Vadocz. Eleven minutes later, Glory won its second penalty of the game as Risdon was tripped in the box. Keogh stepped up, dispatching the penalty calmly in the bottom right corner.
Harold then put the polish on a professional Perth Glory performance four minutes into stoppage time. Risdon charged down the right wing before delivering a scintillating cross onto the head of Harold, finishing well at the back post to cap off a big win for Perth Glory FC.
Glory will fly to New Zealand next week for the last leg of the Long Distance Derby Cup against Wellington, before facing Newcastle in the Hunter.
Perth will host Melbourne City in the last home game of the season on April 3rd.
Key Moments:
3’ Castro plays a ball into the box from the left wing to Harold inside the box, who is brought down as the referee points to the spot.
4’ Castro steps up to take the penalty and sends Izzo the wrong way, placing the ball into the bottom right corner.
18’ Central Coast win a free kick in a dangerous area. Luis Garcia whips in a delightful ball which meets O’Donovan as his toe-poked shot goes inches wide.
34’ Keogh and Castro combine down the left wing before Castro delivers a cross met by Harold but he can only loop his header into the arms of Izzo
37’ Risdon bombs down the right wing but is taken down by a clumsy challenge by Austin which results in a Glory free kick. Castro swings in the ball to Keogh whose header clatters off the woodwork.
38’ The 11,127 strong crowd stands in applause in the memory of Dylan Tombides.
Second Half:
47’ Castro’s delightful corner is redirected on target by Grant, his header is cleared off the line.
48’ Risdon bombs down the wing, but once again is fouled, this time by Austin. The winger is sent off for accruing a second yellow card.
53’ Glory quick short corner sees Risdon swing in a perfect cross to Keogh, who heads powerfully into the bottom corner and making it 2-0 to Glory.
55’ Vadocz takes a heavy touch in midfield and Luis Garcia catches him late, resulting in a second yellow card and sending off, seeing Central Coast go down to 9 men.
62’ Oxborrow crosses from the left wing, finding Richard Garcia who heads just wide of the near post.
66’ Risdon makes his way into the 18 yard box and is brought down in the box, this time by Montgomery. Keogh steps up to the penalty spot and makes no mistake, sending Izzo the wrong way and making it 3-0 to the Glory.
81’ A deep cross to the back post from Risdon finds Reiners, who fires just wide of the near post.
90+4’ Risdon delivers a pinpoint cross to Harold, who heads home at the back post to cap off a 4-0 victory to Glory.
WHAT THEY SAID
Kenny Lowe:
“The boys were professional, you can’t fault the way they played. We started really well the first half, then slowed down. But again, Covic didn’t have to make a save”.
SQUADS
Perth Glory: Ante COVIC (GK), Alex GRANT (Dino DJULBIC 76’), Marc WARREN, Shane LOWRY, Joshua RISDON, Gyorgy SANDOR, Krisztian VADOCZ, Richard GARCIA (Jamal REINERS 71’), Chris HAROLD, Diego CASTRO (Mitchell OXBORROW 61’), Andy KEOGH
Unused Substitutes: Jerrad TYSON (GK), Kosta PETRATOS
Central Coast Mariners: Paul IZZO (GK), Joshua ROSE, Jacob POSCOLIERO, Harry ASCROFT, Mitchell AUSTIN, Fabio FERREIRA (Bradley MCDONALD 66’), Nick MONTGOMERY, Roy O’DONOVAN (Josh BINGHAM (66’), Luis GARCIA, Jake MCGING, Tomislav USKOK (Liam ROSE 42’)
Unused Substitutes: Adam PEARCE (GK), Matthew FLECTHER
Scorers: Diego CASTRO (4’), Andy KEOGH (53’, 67’), Chris HAROLD (90’)
Red Cards: Mitchell AUSTIN (49’), Luis GARCIA (54’)
Yellow Cards: Tomislav USKOK (4’), Mitchell AUSTIN (37’, 48’), Luis GARCIA (51’, 54’), Nick MONTGOMERY (65’), Liam ROSE (85’), Josh BINGHAM (87’)
Conditions: Clear
