Glory moved four points clear at the top of the Hyundai A-League table after goals from Andy Keogh and Neil Kilkenny secured a well-deserved 2-0 win over Newcastle Jets in front of a season-best crowd of 11,393 at nib Stadium.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268486001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5994999620001
Keogh found the net from close range on 16 minutes to claim his ninth goal of the season, before Kilkenny bent home a magnificent strike from just outside the box two minutes after the restart.
Ivan Franjic subsequently hit the post as Glory came close to increasing their lead, while an impressive defensive performance in energy-sapping warm conditions secured a third consecutive clean sheet.
Head Coach Tony Popovic was understandably delighted to see his side return to winning ways with what was an impressively controlled display.
“It was a very good, dominant performance,” he said.
“The only disappointing thing is that we didn’t put the game away in the first half, really. They are a dangerous side with some very good individuals and you know that they’ll have some periods in the game where they’ll be on top. But apart from that, it’s a great three points for us.
“Every single player out there made a contribution and we deservedly got the three points.”
Although the Jets began brightly, it was Glory who recorded the first shot in anger when Fabio Ferreira stung Glen Moss’ palms after being teed up by Keogh, who in turn had been picked out by Jason Davidson.
And the hosts hit the front moments later via a similarly well-worked move.
Kilkenny’s sublime ball over the top found Diego Castro and as the Newcastle defence appealed in vain for offside, the Spaniard unselfishly squared for Keogh who calmly slotted home.
Some fine defending from Shane Lowry duly preserved Glory’s lead, the 29-year-old applying a perfectly-timed block as Roy O’Donovan looked to set Kaine Sheppard up for what would have been a tap-in after the Jets had launched a swift counter-attack.
Both sides continued to show plenty of intent during a lively opening stanza, with a delightful backheel from Ferreira allowing Davidson time to supply a fine cross which only just eluded the diving Keogh.
Ferreira was then denied by Moss in a one-on-one situation having been played in by Matt Spiranovic and from the resulting corner, the vastly-experienced Newcastle ‘keeper was called into action again, this time to parry a curling effort from Davidson.
Having finished the first half on the front, Glory made an explosive start to the second, courtesy of Kilkenny.
The in-form midfielder drove to the edge of the box and with a stunning, curling effort, bagged his fourth goal of the campaign.
Dimi Petratos fired narrowly wide just after the hour-mark as Ernie Merrick’s side tried to grab a foothold in the game, but the men in purple were soon on the offensive again, with Moss forced to smother at the feet of onrushing substitute Joel Chianese.
The New Zealand international then produced an even better save to foil Castro after the Glory skipper had turned Nikolai Topor-Stanley brilliantly in the box and moments later, half-time substitute Ivan Franjic cut in from the right and struck the foot of the post with a rasping, left-foot effort.
O’Donovan did draw a sharp stop from Liam Reddy as the full-time whistle approached, but the hosts saw out the final moments with a degree of comfort to lock down home win number six of the season.
Match Details
Hyundai A-League 2018/19 Season Round 16
Perth Glory 2 (Keogh 16′, Kilkenny 47′) Newcastle Jets 0
Half-time: 1-0
nib Stadium, Perth
Attendance: 11,393
Referee: Alex King
Perth Glory: 33.Liam REDDY (gk), 2.Alex GRANT (5.Ivan FRANJIC 46′), 3.Jason DAVIDSON, 4.Shane LOWRY, 9.Andy KEOGH (11.Brendon SANTALAB 85′), 13.Matthew SPIRANOVIC, 17.Diego CASTRO, 22.Fabio FERREIRA (7.Joel CHIANESE 60′), 23.Scott NEVILLE, 27.JUANDE, 88.Neil KILKENNY
Substitutes not used: 1.Tando VELAPHI (gk), 20.Jake BRIMMER
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil
Newcastle Jets: 1.Glen MOSS (gk), 4.Nigel BOOGAARD (c), 6.Steven UGARKOVIC, 9.Roy O’DONOVAN, 10.Ronald VARGAS, 13.Ivan VUJICA (3.Jason HOFFMAN 69′), 14.Kaine SHEPPARD (8.Jair 67′), 17.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI, 22.Lachlan JACKSON (7.Dimi PETRATOS 46′), 23.Matthew RIDENTON, 44.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY
Substitutes not used: 11.Mitch AUSTIN, 20.Lewis ITALIANO (gk)
Yellow cards: Georgievski
Red cards: Nil
#OneGlory
