Report by Peter Simcox

Pictured: Perth celebrate. Photo: Vince Caratozzolo/www.fotoenzo.com

Gustavo Catarcione scored two second-half goals to put Perth SC on their way to a 3-1 win over Floreat Athena at Litis Stadium on Sunday.

Aleks Jovic added the third goal and Floreat skipper Ludovic Boi grabbed a late consolation for the home side.

Things went from bad to worse for Floreat as defender Blair Govan was sent off after receiving a second yellow card in stoppage time.

The young Perth side were led superbly by skipper Adrian Madaschi, who left the field early in the game with a nasty gash under his eye, but returned head swathed in bandages.

Coach Ramon Falzon praised his skipper, who was a key contributor to a victory that lifted Perth to third on the table.

“Adrian was outstanding today,” Falzon said. “He played like a warrior and he holds the backline really well together. He’s superior at set-pieces and it was good to get him back today - he was magnificent.

“(In the) first half Floreat were in the ascendancy and pressing, and we did well to hold out. (In) the second half we hit them on the counter attack and scored three good goals.

“We have some talented young players in our squad and they are starting to gel, which is very pleasing.”

Madaschi, who returned to the side after missing last week due to suspension, said it was important to hit back after a draw to ECU Joondalup and defeat to Stirling Lions.

“It was a good team performance today,” Madaschi said. “We’ve coped a lot of injures recently, but credit to the young players they have worked really hard.

“They have come in, taken some constructive criticism, but they have taken it on board, and today we had probably the youngest side in the league.

“Results yesterday went our way, so to come here and score three goals and take home the three points is massive after two games without a win.”

Both sides had observed a minute’s silence in memory of former Floreat President Paraskos Georgis, who passed away recently, before kick-off.

The best early chance fell to the home side midway through the half. Former Perth midfielder Dean Evans’ low cross was not cleared and Phil Arnold and Chris Saldaris had shots blocked by some desperate Perth defending.

Floreat were on top and Perth keeper Francis Soale produced a stunning reaction save to deny Bobby Wilson’s header before Kris Gate effort flashed a shot wide of the target.

Perth’s best chance came just before half-time when Andreas Theodosiades sent Jordan De Leo in on goal but Jason Saldaris was out bravely to save at the midfielder’s feet.

Floreat opened the second half well and Dennis Galan fired over from close-range before Govan headed over.

But despite Floreat dominating, it was Perth who hit the front on 70 minutes.

Jovic made space down the left and picked out Catarcione in the box, who cut inside his marker and finished clinically.

It was 2-0 three minutes later when Theodosiades sent Catarcione clear and he scored his 15th goal of the season.

Floreat re-shuffled their line up and went three at the back but they were being picked off by a rampant Perth side, who added a third goal nine minutes from time.

Catarcione was the supplier this time squaring the ball to an unmarked Jovic at the back post, who made no mistake.

Floreat skipper Ludovic Boi pulled one back, volleying home from inside the penalty area, but it was too little too late for the home side.

Floreat Athena 1 (Boi 86mins)
Perth SC 3 (Catarcione 70mins, 73, Jovic 81)
Sunday, June 10, 2016
Venue: E&D Litis Stadium, Mount Hawthorn
Referee: Michal Jasinski
Assistants: Joshua Nixon and Jake Dean 

Floreat Athena: GK Jason SALDARIS, 3 Blair GOVAN, 5 Bobby WILSON, 10 Kris GATE, 11 Dennis GALAN, 12 Nathan SCULLY (14 Jordan PARFITT 84’), 14 Ludovic BOI, 15 Chris SALDARIS, 17 Dean EVANS, 18 Philip ARNOLD, 20 Robbie GASPAR (2 Cameron YORKE 47’)
Substitutes not used: RGK Jordan BARBAS, 13 Sam KANTOR, 16 Sam KHANKHALILI
Yellow cards: Gaspar 7’, Evans 26’, Blair 29’, 92, Wilson 37’, C.Saldaris 42’, Scully 60’, Boi 92’
Red cards: Blair 92’

Perth SC: GK Francis SOALE, 2 David FILLIPPOU, 3 Andreas THEODOSIADES (16 Thomas JEBB 87’), 4 Adrian MADASCHI, 5 Nathan DIAZ, 7 Aleks JOVIC (19 Vasco DA SILVA 93’), 9 Gustavo CATARCIONE, 12 Jordan DE LEO, 13 Rocco PIZZATA, 14 Dino TOPCAGIC (17 Frank FURFARO 66’), 18 Alex SILLA
Substitutes not used: RGK Daniel PASSARELLI, 20 Anthony TOPINI
Yellow cards: Fillippou 40’, Theodosiades 43’, Diaz 45+1’