Perth Glory FC has shot to the top of the Foxtel National Youth League table after a 3-1 win against Western Sydney Wanderers at the Ashfield Sports Club on Sunday.
A brace from midfielder Brandon O’Neill and another goal from Joe Knowles had given the Glory a 3-0 lead before the Wanderers scored a late consolation goal from Steve Kuzmanovski in the last minute of the game.
“It was a dominant performance by the squad but we still need to be more ruthless in front of goal and capitalize on opportunities when they present themselves,” said Glory Coach John Gibson.
“We scored three good goals, including some nice combinations and interplay but we would have liked to have kept a clean sheet and conceding a late soft goal was disappointing.”
At the start of the game the Wanderers lead the table on goal difference from their host but Gibson’s side made a perfect start and went ahead after only nine minutes.
Jack Clisby made space down the left and cut the ball back to the penalty area and O’Neill placed it in the bottom corner of the net giving Wanderers keeper Tom Heward-Belle no chance.
Glory doubled its advantage just after the half hour and it was O’Neill again. The midfielder picked the ball up on the half way line, ran at the Wanderers defence, before unleashing a powerful shot that flew past Heward-Belle to double the Perth’s lead at the break.
Both sides had good chances in the second half but it was Glory who added a third 12 minutes from time.
Calvin Whitney played the ball over the top to Knowles, who brought the ball down, and his volley flew into the net.
The Wanderers reduced the margin in the 90th minute, when Steve Kuzmanovski’s shot was deflected off a Glory defender, wrong footing Jordan Thurtell.
Glory however sits at the top of the table, two points clear of Melbourne City and Brisbane Roar.
Gibson was delighted for his players.
“The hot conditions are something we like and are accustomed to, but saying that, the whole squad contributed to a good home performance,’ he said.
“They are getting rewarded for their application” he added.
Glory heads to Brisbane this week to take on the Roar on Sunday, November 23.
Match Details
Perth Glory 3 (O’Neill 9’, 30’, Knowles 78’)
Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (Kuzmanovski 90′)
Sunday 16th November 2014
Venue: Intiga Stadium, Inglewood
Referee: Matthew Southern
Assistants: Tom Doyle and Elliott Cirkovic
Fourth Official: Nico Hoyle
Perth Glory FC : GK Jordan THURTELL, 2 Matthew DAVIES, 3 Jacob COLLARD (C), 4 Jack IREDALE, 5 Jack CLISBY, 6 Mitchel OXBORROW, 7 Calvin WHITNEY, 8 Brandon O’NEILL, 9 Joe KNOWLES, 10 Cameron EDWARDS, 11 Borbor SAM
Subs: RGK Dylan WILSON, 14 Todd NORRIS, 15 Ali GHOLAMI, 16 Nathan COSTELLO
Western Sydney Wanderers : GK Tom HEWARD-BELLE, 2 Jake ADELSON, 3 Yianni PERKATIS, 4 Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS, 5 Anthony SCHMIDT, 6 Martin LO (C), 7 Richard DARKO, 8 Liam YOULLEY, 9 Michael TRAJKOVSKI, 10 Nick SULLIVAN, 11 Steve KUZMANOVSKI
Subs: RGK Domenic NASCIMBEN, 13 Jack STEWART, 12 Gabriel CLEUR, 15 Keanu BACCUS
