Glory leaves it late to beat WA

Perth Glory scored two goals in second half stoppage-time to beat the Western Australian State side 3-1 in the ‘Call to Arms Cup’ at E&D Litis Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Mile Sterjovski put the Glory in front in first half stoppage-time, before Andreas Oliviera levelled for the Western Australia midway through the second half. But late strikes from Reece Vittiglia and Scott Neville gave the Glory the win.

In front of a big crowd, the Glory included Robbie Fowler, for his first start in the pre-season, but it was the WA State side that opened brightly, and from David Micevski’s cross on two minutes, Adrian Webster’s shot from 10-yards was well saved by Aleks Vrteski.

The Glory’s first opportunity came four minutes later, a quick free kick from Fowler sent Sterjovski clear, but his shot flashed wide of the post, and moments later the former Liverpool striker’s lob from the edge of the box was saved by keeper Cyril Sharrock.

It was a good tempo and both sides looked to gain the upper hand, and when Steve McGarry picked out Adriano Pellegrino his long-range shot was saved low by Sharrock.

Glory began to get on top and should have hit the front on the half hour. McGarry sent Sterjovski clear down the left, and his pinpoint cross picked out Fowler on the back post, but he headed wide from close-range.

Moments later Josh Risdon’s good run and cross from the right found Sterjovski on the back post, but the former Socceroos’ shot from six-yards was saved by Sharrock.

The WA state league side ended the half well and Webster sent Micevski clear on 39 minutes, but his shot from 10-yards flew high over the bar. Then sixty seconds later Micevski was the provider, the former Glory midfielder picked out Branimir Mikulic who headed wide.

It looked like it would be even at the break, but in stoppage-time the A-League side hit the front. Neville played in Pellegrino down the right, his cross found Sterjovski at the back post, who headed home from five-yards.

The Glory made four changes at the break, with Jamie Harnwell, Vrteski, Naum Sekulovksi and Fowler making way for Michael Baird, Andrija Jukic, Todd Howarth and Tando Velaphi.

There were chances at both ends at the start of the second half. First on 48 minutes Sterjovski found Jukic, whose first time shot was well saved low by Sharrock. Then two minutes later, a good run down the right by Mikulic ended with his shot saved low by Velaphi.

Glory upped the tempo, but with former Middlesbrough defender Jason Gavin in tremendous form for Western Australia, they were struggling to break the state league side down.

They did go close on the hour, when Neville’s cross from the right was volleyed by Sterjovski, and Sharrock showed great reactions to deny him, and the Armadale SC keeper made an even better save to deny him from the rebound.

Western Australia continued to battle and they were rewarded on 73 minutes, with the equaliser. A great through ball from WA skipper Andy Brown sent Oliveira clear. The Glory defenders looked for offside, but the flag stayed down, and although Velaphi saved the Perth SC striker’s first effort, he could do nothing about the second, Oliveira scoring from close-range.

With time ticking down both sides had chances to win it. First on 87 minutes Todd Howarth burst down the left, his cross found Baird, whose first time shot was superbly saved by second half substitute Phil Straker.

In the last minute the WA state side won a free kick, 20-yards from goal. Former Notts County defender Bobby Wilson’s powerful free kick was deflected off the wall and Velaphi was alert to save low to his left.

It looked like the honours would be even, but the Glory struck in the 92nd minute. A great run and through ball by 18-year-old Risdon, who was outstanding on the night, sent Vittiglia clear and the Glory youngster finished clinically past Straker from 12-yards.

The result was put beyond the WA state side sixty seconds later, when the Glory added a third. Neville was sent clear and he finished spectacularly past Straker from the edge of the box.

A great game in front of 3,121 spectators, and the medal for best on field went to Western Australia defender Jason Gavin, who was excellent all night.

Match Details:

Perth Glory - 3 (Sterjovski 46' Vittiglia 92', Neville 93')
WA State Side - 1 (Oliviera 73')
Referee: Mathew Cheeseman

Western Australia: GK Cyril Sharrock (Phil Straker 69’), 2 Danny Cain (Johnny Mirco 59’), Shane Nunes, 4 Jason Gavin, 6 Bobby Wilson, 8 Andy Brown, 12 Branimir Mikulic, 14 David Micevski (James Robinson 69’), 15 Antonio Naglieri (Andreas Oliveira 59’), 16 Shane Robinson.

Perth Glory: GK Aleks Vrteski (Tando Velaphi 46’), 2 Josh Mitchell (Brent Griffiths 69’), 3 Jamie Coyne, 5 Jamie Harnwell (Michael Baird 46’), 9 Robbie Fowler (Andrija Jukic 46’), 12 Scott Neville, 14 Steven McGarry, 16 Adriano Pelligrinno (Howard Fondyke 62’), 19 Naum Sekulovski (Todd Howarth 46’), 21 Mile Sterjovski (Reece Vittiglia 77’), 25 Josh Risdon.

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