Perth Glory have begun their National Youth League campaign in style with a convincing 3-0 home victory over the Australian Institute of Sport.
Perth Glory have begun their National Youth League campaign in style with a convincing 3-0 home victory over the Australian Institute of Sport.
Goals to Jesse Makarounas, Adam Taggart and Australian marquee player Mile Sterjovski saw the Glory secure the three points at Perth’s Macedonia Park on Saturday.
Sterjovski put his hand up for a recall to Perth’s senior team by scoring from the penalty spot, setting up Taggart’s goal and creating several other chances in an impressive performance on the right wing.
The AIS struggled to maintain possession against a strong Glory side – which included senior squad members Sterjovski, Makarounas, Taggart, Adam Hughes, Evan Berger, Joshua Risdon and Steve Pantelidis – with their best chances coming on the counter-attack.
Only several fantastic saves from AIS ‘keeper Paul Izzo prevented the score from blowing out as Jan Versleijen’s side struggled to keep the Glory at bay.
The only disappointment for Perth was an apparent leg injury to Makarounas which saw him substituted at half-time.
The hosts had most of the possession early in the game but the AIS created the first good chance after 10 minutes when Stefan Mauk’s beautiful cross found Anthony Proia, only for the striker’s free header from six yards to be well saved.
The AIS caught Perth on the break several times but were nearly made to pay for their inability to finish those chances when Sterjovski played an excellent through ball to Taggart, but the youngster shot narrowly wide from a tough angle.
But the home side were rewarded for all their possession when Izzo spilled Hughes’ initial shot and Makarounas was able to tap in from close range just seconds before half-time.
And Taggart doubled the Glory’s lead just after the break when Sterjovski beat his defender and unselfishly played across, allowing the striker to finish calmly.
Izzo prevented Reece Vittiglia from sealing the game when he made a great block and he followed that up with several fantastic second-half saves.
But Sterjovski wrapped up the points when he followed up a foul on Josh Risdon in the box with a well-taken penalty in the 70th minute.
Substitutes Benjamin Warland and Kwabena Boahene combined for the institute’s best chance of the second half, but the latter shot just wide from a good position with 18 minutes left and there was no way back into the game for the Canberra-based outfit.
