Adam Zimarino grabbed a double as the PGFC Academy First Team produced their best performance of the NPL WA season to secure a 2-0 victory over previously-unbeaten league leaders Floreat Athena on Saturday.
On a dramatic afternoon at E&D Litis Stadium, the in-form Glory frontman fired the visitors into the lead early in the second half, picking out the bottom corner after the persistence of Charlie Leech and Ciaran Bramwell had prevented the home defence from clearing their lines.
15 minutes later, there was another twist in the tale as Athena skipper Dean Evans was stretchered off following a clash in the box with opposite number Giordano Colli and in the aftermath, Jawad Rezai incurred the wrath of referee Josh Mannella and was given his marching orders.
A tense final quarter saw the ten-man hosts throw bodies forward in a desperate bid to avoid a first defeat of the season and they were given a boost in the second minute of stoppage-time when Mason Tatafu’s challenge on Manase Abandelwa was deemed worthy of a red card.
But the men in white responded in the best possible way in the final minute, Zimarino leading a breakaway from a Floreat corner and sliding the ball into a net left unguarded by home ‘keeper Jason Saldaris who was left stranded having been sent up for the set-piece.
Wild celebrations ensued, with the result moving Ruben Zadkovich’s side to within three points of the top four ahead of next weekend’s home clash with Bayswater City.
In the day’s other games, meanwhile, the Under-18s and Under-20s also claimed three points apiece courtesy of impressive respective 5-0 and 3-1 victories.
Match Details
Floreat Athena 0 Perth Glory 2 (Zimarino 53′, 90+6′)
Half-time: 0-0
E&D Litis Stadium
Referee: Josh Mannella
Floreat Athena: 1.Jason SALDARIS, 2.Marco SANTALUCIA (9.Robert HARDING 62′), 8.Sean MCMANUS, 10.Nicholas AMBROGIO (4.Ben STEELE 62′), 11.Dennis GALAN, 12.Jawad REZAI, 13.George FESTA, 15.Chris SALDARIS, 17.Dean EVANS (c) (19.Manase ABANDELWA 72′), 18.Phil ARNOLD, 20.Andrew PALMER
Substitutes not used: 16.Kyle MURRAY, 41.Joshua HUNTER
Yellow Cards: Arnold, Galan, Palmer, C.Saldaris
Red Cards: Rezai
Perth Glory: 30.Cameron COOK, 3.Jacob MUIR, 4.Aidan COYNE, 5.Joseph FORDE, 6.Chris DONNELL, 7.Charlie LEECH, 8.Aidan EDWARDS (16.Andrew MARANTA 86′), 9.Ciaran BRAMWELL (17.Josh ANASMO 78′), 10.Giordano COLLI (c), 11.Adam ZIMARINO, 20.Jack ANDREWS (15.Mason TATAFU 75′)
Substitutes not used: 1.Casey ROBERTSON (gk), 14.Daniel BENNIE
Yellow Cards: Edwards, Muir Cook
Red Cards: Tatafu
(picture courtesy of Tom McCarthy)
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