Perth Glory have completed their pre-season matches in stunning fashion with a 5-0 win over Melbourne Heart at Epping Stadium in Melbourne.
Perth Glory have completed their pre-season matches in stunning fashion with a 5-0 win over Melbourne Heart at Epping Stadium in Melbourne.
Star striker Shane Smeltz scored twice in the first half while captain Jacob Burns, young gun Jesse Makarounas and Japanese whiz Ryo Nagai also got on the score sheet.
“It was a fantastic performance,” Perth Glory coach Ian Ferguson said.
“To get two wins in four days over Melbourne Victory and Heart is very pleasing, I-m delighted.
“The manner that we played was also very pleasing.
“Now we need to carry this form into the first game of the season against Brisbane Roar.”
Smeltz opened the scoring on ten minutes from the penalty spot and then added a second in spectacular fashion.
Nagai, who again impressed on trial, crossed from the left to Smeltz who struck the ball cleanly from 18 yards with class.
It was then 3-0 on the stroke of half-time as captain Jacob Burns continued his brilliant pre-season form.
Ferguson rotated his squad in the second half but the goals continued to flow.
In the space of three minutes, Perth Glory added a fourth and fifth from the boots of Makarounas and Nagai.
After playing just behind the striker against the Victory, Nagai played wide on the left today and produced another eye-catching game.
“Ryo did very well,” Ferguson added.
“He caused them a lot of problems, and showed he has a great understanding of the game.”
The 5-0 win highlighted Perth Glory-s pre-season form ahead of the first game of the 2012/13 Hyundai A-League season on October 7, the Grand Final Rematch against Brisbane Roar.
From a total of 10 pre-season games, Perth Glory won 9, the only loss, the club-s first game on tour in South Africa.
