The PGFC Academy First Team got their 2019 NPL WA campaign up and running on Saturday courtesy of a convincing 3-0 win over Balcatta at E&D Litis Stadium.
First-half goals from Daniel Stynes and Jacob Italiano put Richard Garcia’s side in control at the break and although the visitors fought back bravely in the second half, Glory killed the game off late in the piece when Aiden Edwards’ shot was deflected into his own net by the luckless Joseph Marino.
The hosts survived a couple of early scares before taking the lead on 17 minutes as Stynes nodded home an inch-perfect cross from the impressive Henry Hore and 1-0 became 2-0 just after the half-hour mark when Balcatta failed to clear their lines and Italiano pounced to rifle home the loose ball.
To their credit, Goran Stajic’s side responded well at the start of the second half, Shubham Mokala and Adam Zimarino both being denied by Jackson Lee before former Brisbane Roar midfielder Calum O’Çonnell struck the bar with a header.
But the Glory defence ultimately held firm and their first win of the season was made safe two minutes from time when substitute Edwards fired in a low cross-shot from the left and in his attempt to clear the ball, Marino succeeded only in diverting it past ‘keeper Yousri Gharsallah.
The win rounded off a clean sweep for Glory on the day, with the Under-18s and Under-20s enjoying respective 5-1 and 4-3 wins.
Next on the agenda for all three teams is a trip to Alfred Skeet Reserve to take on Armadale on Saturday 30 March.
Photo courtesy of Tom McCarthy
Match Details
Perth Glory 3 (Stynes 17′, Italiano 33′, Marino o.g. 88′) Balcatta 0
Half-time: 2-0
Referee: Steven Gregory
Assistant Referees: Arvin Shanmuganathan, Stewart Beattie
Perth Glory: 1. Jackson LEE, 2. Zayd FARAH, 3. Walter SCOTT, 4. Jacob MUIR, 5. Daniel WALSH (14. Jaiden SELDEN 45′), 6. Kristian POPOVIC, 7. Ethan BROOKS (16. Gomo DUKULY 67′), 8. Henry HORE, 9. Gabriel POPOVIC, 10. Daniel STYNES, 11. Jacob Italiano (13. Aiden EDWARDS 60′)
Unused substitutes: 17. Jack LEECH, 25. Nicholas SPECCA
Yellow cards: None
Red cards: None
Balcatta: 1. Yousri GHARSALLAH, 2. Joseph MARINO, 3. John KEARNEY, 4. Calum O’Connell, 5. Shubham Mokala, 10. Jonathan CORNESS, 12. Roberto DEL BORRELLO (11. Callum STOCKS 58′), 13. Carmelo GIUFFRE, 16. Alex CASTIELLO, 22. Ben PELLIZZARI (9. Gavin KNIGHT 45′), 23. Adam ZIMARINO (20. Anthony TOPINI 72′)
Unused substitutes: 19. Michael ZIMARINO, 25. David KEENAN
Yellow cards: Scott 79′, Kearney 79′
Red cards: None
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