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Status: Friendly
Date: 24 September 2023
Venue: State Football Centre, Queens Park, Western Australia
Western Australia: GK Liam REDDY (RGK Rocco LIBERTI 65’), 24 Chok DAU (25 Jesse LAZZARO 77’), 26 David NINKOVICH (44 Josh ANASMO 46’), 27 Zayd FARAH (23 Josh SAMSON 58’), 31 Julian TELES, 33 Michael DOMFEH (45 Kotaro YAMAMOTO 65’), 37 Nick WALSH (43 Kosta SPARTA 77’), 38 Neil KILKENNY (32 Thiak KUEL 65’), 41 Tyler GARNER (40 Liam HUDSON 58’), 47 Breckan BAKER, 48 Mitch OXBORROW (39 Abdul OSMAN 77’) Subs not used: 46 Pieter JACOBSZ
Perth Glory: GK Oliver SAIL (GK), 2 John KOUTROUMBIS (7 Stefan COLAKOVSKI 46'), 29 Darryl LACHMAN (28 Kaelan MAJEKODUNMI 69'), 5 Mark BEEVERS (14 Riley WARLAND 69'), 9 Oliver BOZANIC (21 Antonis MARTIS 46') 15 Aleksandar SUSNJAR (16 Joseph FORDE 46'), 20 Giordano COLLI, 11 Adam ZIMARINO (4 Luke BODNAR 69'), 23 Daniel BENNIE (77 Bruce KAMAU 69'), 12 Luke IVANOVIC (27 Jayden GORMAN 69'), 22 Adam TAGGART (18 David WILLIAMS 46') – Subs not used: RGK Cameron COOK - Referee: Shane SKINNER
Referee: Shane SKINNER
Perth Glory have retained the Gold Fields Challenge Cup after a 3-0 win against the Gold Fields WA State Team on Sunday evening at the State Football Centre. They were made to work hard for the win, against a well-organised WA side, but David Williams struck twice and new signing Antonis Martis also found the net in the final 11 minutes as Glory sealed the win.
WA defender Nick Walsh said they gave a good account of themselves on the night. “I thought we showed a great account of ourselves and held our own for most of the game and managed to create a couple of chances which could’ve gone in on another day,” the RedStar’s defender said. “We had a plan and defended very well, and it was unfortunate to concede the goals at the end because I think the score doesn’t truly reflect how competitive we were. Overall, very proud of the team’s performance after only a handful of training sessions.”
The State Team, coached by Andy Ord, started brightly and had the first opportunity on 12 minutes, Perth SC striker David Ninkovic cutting in from the left, but his shot on the run flashed the wrong side of the post. Moments later Glory new recruit Oliver Bozanic saw his long-range effort saved low by former Glory custodian Liam Reddy, before Adam Taggart’s curling effort went wide of the target.
But it was the state side with the best opportunity of the match on 26 minutes. Mitch Oxborrow found Chok Dau on the right, and his low cross found Michael Domfeh, who got in front of Darryl Lachman in the box, but his first time shot flashed inches wide. Glory ended the half the better, and guest state player Neil Kilkenny did well to block Adam Zimarino’s low cross, after he was sent clear by a neat through ball from Taggart, before Taggart volleyed wide of the target moments later.
Glory made a number of changes at the break, and one of them David Willians almost had an immediate impact, his rasping shot from distance took a touch off Julian Teles, wrong footing Reddy, but the keeper produced a great reaction save to deny him. Glory went close again on 55 minutes, Giordano Colli’s free kick wasn’t dealt with and substitute Stefan Colakovski saw his snap shot saved low by Reddy.
The A-League side were having to be patient against a well organised State Team, and they had keeper Oli Sail to keep them level on 69 minutes, substitute Josh Anasmo raced clear down the left, cut inside the box, but the New Zealand international keeper saved well to deny him. Glory went close themselves moments later substitutes Bruce Kamau and Jayden Gorman combining, the later was denied by a great last-ditch tackle from Breckan Baker.
But ten minutes from time the deadlock was finally broken, Gorman won possession on the left and cut the ball back to Williams, who rounded the keeper and fired home from close-range. It was 2-0 moments later, Kamau squaring the ball to Martis who finished with aplomb. Glory’s fitness showed late, and it was 3-0 when Williams added his second after a through ball from Gorman, to seal a hard-earned win, and retain the Gold Fields Challenge Cup. Glory now turns their attentions to next Sunday when their pre-season preparations will be ramped up once again as they take on A-League rivals Melbourne Victory at Hay Park in Bunbury.
“It was tough test against a side with a sprinkling of A-League experience, and they were a good opposition and were up for it, and made it extremely tough for us which was good,” Glory Head Coach Alen Stajic said post-match. “I was a little concerned we got caught out on the counter attack a couple of times, but they only had a couple of good chances, and we need to protect ourselves from that vulnerability. But overall, we got better as the game went along, and once we got that first goal it opened up the floodgates a bit.”
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This page was last updated on the 28th September, 2023