Glory opened their pre-season campaign with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Perth SC at Dorrien Gardens on Wednesday evening.
Jacob Italiano, Andy Keogh and Callum Timmins all found the net as the visitors dominated for long periods in front of an appreciative crowd of around 600.
Taking charge of Glory for the first time, Tony Popovic opted to make 11 changes at half time and handed debuts to new recruits Ivan Franjic, Brendon Santalab, Tando Velaphi and Fabio Ferreira.
He was rewarded with an encouraging performance from his charges who adapted well to a 3-4-2-1 formation and looked particularly threatening in the wide areas throughout.
Perth SC began brightly, Ivan Franjic doing well to block Frank Furfaro’s goalbound effort, but Glory soon took control, with Neil Kilkenny a dominant force in central midfield.
After Italiano and Keogh had gone close, it was Kilkenny who released Joel Chianese down the right and his driven low cross just eluded a sliding Chris Harold at the far post.
Glory were not to be denied moments later, however, Italiano somehow finding a pocket of space among a cluster of defenders on the edge of the box and firing into the bottom corner.
Franjic then saw his effort cleared off the line by Jordan De Leo before Keogh made it 2-0 on the stroke of half time.
Kilkenny again started the move, picking out Italiano in the right channel and the youngster delivered an inviting cross which Keogh calmly sidefooted home.
Glory continued to press after the break and came close to increasing their lead on the hour-mark when only a fine, one-handed save from Malek Kuc prevented Jake Brimmer’s sweetly-struck free-kick from finding the top corner.
Santalab and Ferreira then both went close in quick succession before Kuc produced another smart stop to keep out Henry Hore’s clever close-range flick.
Popovic’s side did eventually manage to finish with a flourish, however, Timmins’ long-range strike seeming to glance off Scott Neville on its way into the net with two minutes left.
Glory return to Dorrien Gardens next Wednesday (18th July) for another friendly clash, this time with Gwelup Croatia.
Kick off is at 7pm and admission will again be FREE.
Match Details
Pre-Season Friendly
Perth SC 0-3 Perth Glory (Italiano 20′, Keogh 44′, Timmins 88′)
Half time: 0-2
Dorrien Gardens
Attendance: 600 (approx)
Perth Glory First Half: 33.Liam REDDY (Gk), 2.Alex GRANT, 4.Shane LOWRY, 5.Ivan FRANJIC, 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Joel CHIANESE, 10.Andy KEOGH (c), 14.Chris HAROLD, 15.Brandon WILSON, 21.Jacob ITALIANO, 88.Neil KILKENNY
Perth Glory Second Half: 1.Tando VELAPHI, 3.Walter SCOTT, 9.Henry HORE (18.Zayd FARAH 87′), 11.Brendon SANTALAB (16.Callum TIMMINS 67′), 12.Daniel STYNES (17.Aiden EDWARDS 87′), 13.Yacoub MUSTAFA, 19.Joe KNOWLES, 20.Jake BRIMMER, 22.Fabio FERRIERA, 23.Scott NEVILLE, 25.Luca BODNAR,
Substitutes not used: 40.Jackson LEE
Yellow cards: None
Red cards: None
Perth SC: 1,Malek KUC, 2.Alex SILLA, 6.Harley ORR, 9.Adam ZIMARINO, 10.Nicholas AMBROGIO, 11.Matthew MILENKOVIC, 12.Jordan DE LEO, 13.Rocco PIZZATA, 16.Kieran COLWELL, 17.Frank FURFARO, 28.Paul ZIMARINO
Substitutes: 3.George FESTA, 4.Jacob STUBBERFIELD, 5.Cameron PIQUE, 7.Luke GARAS, 14.Kristian SANTICH, 18.Michael ZIMARINO, 19.Ali NAZARI, 21.Louis ROSSI, 22.Sam THORNLEY, 23.Sebastian BELL
Yellow cards: None
Red cards: None
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