A Perth Glory side stacked with A-League contracted players thumped Perth SC 5-1 at Dorrien Gardens tonight in the NPLM Round 20 rescheduled fixture.
Glory’s starting line-up included seven of the club’s A-League squad – Khoa Ngo, Joel Anasmo, Nathaniel Blair, Adam Bugarija, Kaelan Majekodunmi, Andriano Lebib and Arion Sulemani – and only included three starters from their 3-0 loss to Bayswater City in Round 19.
But in reality, it was the Azzurri who really helped Glory’s cause this evening. Kenny Lowe’s side persisted in playing out from the back, and while it looked pretty on the eye on several occasions when they played through Glory’s lines, Perth SC were punished multiple times for turning the ball over deep in defence.
Anasmo opened the scoring for Glory in the 21st minute, pouncing on an under-hit pass by Azzurri left back Sean O’Connor to race into the penalty box and eventually bundle the ball into the back of the net.
It was 2-0 in the 41st minute when Glory left back Tadiwanashe Kuzamba’s cross set up a sharp finish by Blair from close range.
Glory made it 3-0 shortly after the break when Ethan Banks coughed up the ball as the Azzurri once again tried to play out from the back and Giovanni De Abreau set up Anasmo for his second of the night.
Gordon Perkins pulled one back for the Azzurri in the 67th minute from the penalty spot after he was fouled by Majekodunmi in the box.
Any chance of an Azzurri comeback was erased in the 76th minute when Ngo’s ball across the six-yard box from the left was fired in at the back post by Glory substitute Maxim Uvarov.
Bugarija completed the rout in the 82nd minute – the Perth SC defence once again failing to clear the ball in the penalty box to provide the visitors with a final gift.
A forgettable night at Dorrien Gardens. Azzurri fans will be hoping for a much better performance against Olympic Kingsway on Saturday in the club’s final home game of the season. Please note the early kick-off time of 1pm.