The PGFC Academy First Team slipped to their second defeat of the Football West NPL season on Saturday evening as Perth SC strengthened their grip on top spot with a 4-1 win at E&D Litis Stadium.
The visitors led 2-0 at the break courtesy of efforts from Gustavo Catarcione and former Glory striker Michael Domfeh, before Jackson Lee’s own-goal on the hour-mark handed them a third.
And although Glory hit back almost immediately via Daniel Stynes’ penalty, as they proceeded to chase the game, they were caught out by Niccolo Sabatini who grabbed Perth SC’s fourth of the night.
With regular coaches, Richard Garcia and Steven McGarry away with the Academy Under-16s at the 2019 JSSL Singapore Professional Academy 7’s tournament, Tony Popovic was in the dug-out for this game, while his son Kristian, fresh from his Hyundai A-League debut on Thursday, featured in the starting line-up.
Glory made a good start, enjoying plenty of possession and went close to the opener on 10 minutes. Gomo Dukuly whipped in a cross from out wide and the ball just eluded Luke Salmon with the goal at his mercy.
Five minutes later, however, the visitors opened the scoring. A quick break saw the ball played into Catarcione and the prolific striker finished well past Lee.
Perth SC then doubled their lead on the half-hour in similar circumstances, this time Domfeh being played in and sliding the ball past Lee.
Glory began the second half as brightly as they had the first, with Dukuly twice going close to finding the net, but their hopes of forcing their way back into the contest were dealt a major blow when Lee’s attempt to clear his lines ended with the ball being sliced into his own net.
Despite that set-back Glory continued to take the game to Perth and were rewarded two minutes later when referee Julian Serra pointed to the penalty spot after Dukuly was brought down in the box.
Stynes stepped up and calmly found the net, although Perth SC were to have the final word when Sabatini restored his side’s three-goal advantage just two minutes later.
In the day’s earlier game, meanwhile, Glory’s Under-20s enjoyed better fortunes as Liam Murray’s penalty proved enough to secure a 1-0 win.
Match Details
Perth Glory 1 (Stynes 60’) Perth SC 4 (Catarcione 15’, Domfeh 29’, Lee (OG) 60’, Sabatini 65’)
Half time: 0-2
Referee: Julian Serra
Assistant referees: Jessica Byrd, Joel Morrison
Perth Glory: GK Jackson LEE, 2 Zayd FARAH, 3 Walter SCOTT, 4 Jacob MUIR, 5 Nick WALSH, 6 Kristian POPOVIC, 7 Ethan BROOKS, 8 Henry HORE (C), 9 Luke SALMON (17 Jack LEECH 71’), 10 Daniel STYNES, 11 Gomo DUKULY
Substitute not used: RGK Nicolas SPECA, 15 Cam MURRAY, 16 Josh SAMSON
Yellow cards: None
Red cards: None
Perth SC: GK Dejan ALEKSIC, 2 Alex SILLA, 5 Niccolò SABATINI, 9 Gustavo CATARCIONE (7 Alek JOVIC 87’), 11 Matthew MILENKOVIC, 12 Jordan DE LEO (C), 14 Kristian SANTICH, 16 Kieran COLWELL, 18 Michael DOMFEH, 19 Bojan RADINOVIC, 20 Paul ZIMARINO –
Substitutes not used: RGK Benjamin RATAJCZAK, 3 Andrea THEODOSIADES, 13 Rocco PIZZATA, 15 Leigh MORGAN
Yellow cards: Catarcione
Red cards: None
#OneGlory
Picture courtesy of Tom McCarthy
