Perth Glory Youth has moved within four points of the Foxtel National Youth League Conference A leaders Brisbane Roar, after beating them 2-0 in Week 6 at A.J. Kelly Park on Sunday morning.
The home side thrashed the Glory 0-6 in the opening game of the season, but in the reverse fixture, goals from Kosta Petratos and skipper Joe Knowles won it for the youngsters.
Head Coach John Gibson, said it showed how much the group has improved.
“Pretty happy with the performance from the group against a side who currently sits first in our conference but a team that handed a huge loss in the first game of the season,” he said.
“We started strongly and scored early – after that we controlled the rest of the half and possibly could have scored a few more. However, second half we knew Brisbane we’re going to come out strong – which they did but we held strong and came out with a positive result” he said.
The Glory, who were bolstered with former Socceroo Rhys Williams in the line-up, made the perfect start and hit the front after only four minutes.
Petratos, the brother of Roar’s Dimitri, who was in the crowd to watch him, cut in from the left just outside the 18-yard box, and on an angle curled home superbly off the underside of the bar.
The home side almost levelled six minutes later, Nicholas D’Agostino’s run ended with a cut back to Shannon Brady, who was only inches away from the ball in the penalty area.
The sides took a well-earned drinks break half way through the half, and it seemed to help the Glory who doubled its lead on the half hour.
Skipper Knowles was picked out by a pass from Ross Millard, and he calmly finished low past Tomislav Bilic.
Both sides pressed late in the half but the Glory youngsters went to the shed with a two goal lead.
The Glory held firm early in the second half as the Roar lifted looked to reduce the margin, and Nicholas Panetta’s free kick flashed just wide of Nick Feely’s upright on the hour.
Moments later Joe Champness found space down the flank, but his dangerous cross missed everyone in the penalty area. The Roar had a penalty claim turned down by referee Daniel Olson after Brady’s shot stuck the arm of Glory defender, but the official waved away their protests.
The Glory youngsters will host Melbourne City at home this weekend (Sunday January 15) at Dorrien Gardens.
Kick-off is at 10.30am
Match Details
Brisbane Roar Youth 0
Perth Glory Youth 2 (Petratos 4′, Knowles 32′)
Sunday 8th January
Venue: A.J. Kelly Park
Referee: Daniel Olson
Assistant Referee’s: Cameron Fawcett and Albert Krause
Brisbane Roar: GK Tomislav BILIC, 4 Aaron REARDON (2 Mark RODIC 88′), 5 Cameron CRESTANI (c), 6 Joe CALETTI, 10 Nicholas PANETTA, 11 Jayden PRASAD, 14 Dane INGHAM, 15 Shannon BRADY, 16 Daniel DRIVER (7 Joseph CHAMPNESS 60′), 21 Kye ROWLES, 22 Nicholas D’AGOSTINO (8 Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS)
Subs not used: RGK Andre JANNESE
Yellow cards: CRESTANI 60′
Perth Glory: GK Nick FEELY, 2 Aryn WILLIAMS, 3 Jack IREDALE, 4 Rhys WILLIAMS (14 Scott ROBERTSON 73′), 5 Ross MILLARD, 6 Callum WHITNEY, 7 Joel CHIANESE (12 Gian ALBANO 77′), 8 Dejan SPASESKI, 9 Joseph KNOWLES (c), 10 Jamal REINERS (13 Daniel STYNES 67′), 11 Kosta PETRATOS
Subs not used: RGK Jordan THURTELL
Yellow cards: WHITNEY 11′, Rhys WILLIAMS 56′, SPASESKI 65′, ROBERTSON 78′
