Josh Risdon’s return from injury and Jacob Collard’s spectacular 50-metre strike from kick-off were the biggest positives to come out Sunday’s Foxtel National Youth League clash for Perth, with ladder-leaders Sydney FC running out comfortable 9-2 winners over the Glory.
Josh Risdon-s return from injury and Jacob Collard-s spectacular 50-metre strike from kick-off were the biggest positives to come out Sunday-s Foxtel National Youth League clash for Perth, with ladder-leaders Sydney FC running out comfortable 9-2 winners over the Glory.
Risdon has missed the past 11 weeks since injuring his knee against Newcastle Jets in Round 2 and his comeback is good news for Kenny Lowe with the Perth Glory senior squad being severely tested due to injuries in recent weeks.
However, Risdon-s return was unable to stop a rampant Sydney on Sunday with the contest over by half time as the Sky Blues netted five times in a dominant opening-half showing at WIN Jubilee Oval.
Blake Powell claimed the goalscoring honours for the league leaders bagging four second-half goals as Sydney eased to a ninth win from 10 starts.
The Sky Blues got the scoring underway after 14 minutes with midfielder Anthony Tomelic hitting a sweet long-range strike.
Sydney then took a stranglehold on the game with three goals within a matter of minutes midway through the half.
Firstly, Themba Muata-Marlow threaded a neat pass for Alex Urosevski to coolly slot home.
Prolific striker Mitch Mallia secured a 60-second brace banging home two rebounds, firstly from Christopher Naumoff’s free-kick which rattled the crossbar, and then from Max Burgess’ cross which fell into his path.
Long-serving senior player Terry McFlynn continued his return from injury with a perfect finish from the edge of the penalty area to cap a typically solid display.
Half-time: Sydney FC 5 – 0 Perth Glory FC
The one-way traffic continued after the break as Naumoff was deemed to have been bundled over as he sought to skip around the goalkeeper, and substitute Powell easily slotted home the resultant spot-kick.
Powell then outpaced a flat-footed Glory defence to push the ball home with ease, before again profiting from some slack defending.
The most spectacular goal of the match was delivered by Perth as Jacob Collard craftily hit an inch-perfect 50-metre strike from the kick-off and over the head of Sydney goalkeeper Luke Babic.
Powell struck another goal from near the penalty spot, while the Glory’s Risdon ended the scoring with a perfect 20-metre strike.
Sydney FC 9 (Anthony Tomelic 14, Alex Urosevski 27, Mitch Mallia 27, 29, Terry McFlynn 42, Blake Powell 57, 62, 68, 72)
Perth Glory 2 (Jacob Collard 68, Josh Risdon 86)
Sydney FC:1. Tristan Prendergast (20. Luke Babic 46-), 3. Aaron Calver, 4. Jacob Tratt (c), 5. Daniel Petkovski, 8. Max Burgess, 9. Mitch Mallia (10. Blake Powell 46-), 11. Alec Urosevski (14. Josh McDonald 35-), 12. Terry McFlynn (6. Dylan Caton 57-), 15. Themba Muata-Marlow, 16. Christopher Naumoff, 18 Anthony Tomelic
Yellow cards: Daniel Petkovski 59-, Max Burgess 81-, Jacob Tratt 93-
Perth Glory: 1. Luke Radonich (gk), 3. Mark Barnett (2. Josh Risdon 46-), 5. Josh Barnett, 6. Sean Troup (18. Jack Oldham 25-), 7. Barbor Sam, 8. Jacob Collard (c), 9. Joseph Knowles, 10. Harry O-Brien, 11. Slobodan Vulin (14. Gian Albano 46-), 15. Scott Robertson, 17. Mohamed Beyan
Substitutes not used: 12. Fraser Greenwood (gk)
Yellow cards: Mark Barnett 28-, Jacob Collard 59-
