A late strike from Laat Mathiang earned Glory a 1-0 victory over the Gold Fields WA State Team as the men in purple retained the Challenge Cup at the Sam Kerr Football Centre on Wednesday evening.
A hard-fought, competitive game of few chances was decided ten minutes from time when the Glory midfielder, one of ten substitutes introduced at the break, showed tenacity and technique in equal measure to fashion a shooting opportunity just inside the box and pick out the bottom corner.
Glory’s other best chances fell to David Williams, who hooked a first-half volley narrowly wide and Khoa Ngo, who was denied twice in quick succession after the break by WA goalkeeper Luke Radonich.
A high-quality State Team packed with former Glory players including Neil Kilkenny, Rostyn Griffiths and Joel Chianese provided exactly the kind of competitive hit-out the visitors were looking for a month out from the start of the A-League season.
But they were unable to overly trouble a solid visitors’ defence in which Anas Hamzaoui made an impressive first appearance of pre-season and Lachie Barr added a composed presence on his return from injury.
Glory’s attentions now switch to the upcoming friendly clashes with Newcastle Jets in Bunbury on Sunday and Albany on Wednesday, as well as this weekend’s Pro/Rel Divisional Play Off Final against Dianella White Eagles.
Match Details
2024 Challenge Cup
Gold Fields WA State Team 0 Perth Glory 1 (Mathiang 80′)
Half-time: 0-0
Sam Kerr Football Centre
Wednesday 25 September 2024
Referee: Niall Gillmor
Gold Fields WA State Team: 1.Lewis ITALIANO, 2.Aryn WILLIAMS, 4.Nick WALSH, 5.Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 6.Neil KILKENNY, 8.Mitch OXBORROW, 9.Pieter JACOBSZ, 10.Jesse LAZZARO, 11.Joel CHIANESE, 17.Matt GEORGE, 25.Sean MCMANUS
Substitutes: 3.Zayd FARAH, 7.Joe KNOWLES, 12.Luke RADONICH (gk), 14.Ajang YUOT, 15.Tyler GARNER, 16.Kristian SANTICH, 18.Declan HUGHES, 19.Thiak KULE, 20.Sam COOK, 22.Daniel FAICHNEY, 26.Josh SAMSON, 27.Clay GIBBS
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Perth Glory: 1.Oli SAIL (gk) (13.Cameron COOK (gk) 46′), 3.Anas HAMZAOUI (27.Will FRENEY 46′), 5.Lachlan BARR (41.Laat MATHIANG 46′), 6.Brandon O’NEILL (24.Andriano LEBIB 46′), 9.David WILLIAMS (c) (26.Koha NGO 46′), 12.Taras GOMULKA (25.Jaylan PEARMAN 46′), 17.Jarrod CARLUCCIO (38.Gio DE ABREU 80′), 21.Abdul FAISAL (18.Santiago FLORES 46′), 19.Josh RISDON (2.Tino MUTEMA 46′), 22 Adam TAGGART (16.Adam BUGARIJA 46′), 28.Kaelan MAJEKODUNMI (42.Daniel JANKULOSKI 46′)
Substitutes not used: 8.Alex BOLTON, 23.Tadi KUZAMBA, 30.Jhett WARNER (gk), 39.Seb DESPOTOVSKI
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
(photo courtesy of Tom McCarthy)
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