Report by Aidan Shaw

Pictured: Perth's Clark Keltie challenges Scott Blackmore. Photo: Vince Caratozzolo/www.fotoenzo.com

League champions Perth SC booked their place in the final of The West Australian Top Four Cup after beating Inglewood United on penalties at Dorrien Gardens on Saturday.

Skipper Clark Keltie had given Perth the lead in the first half but a late equaliser from Brian Woodall sent the match into extra time.

Inglewood’s hopes of gaining revenge on Perth, who beat them to the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues WA title on the last day of the season, were snuffed out on penalties after neither side added to the score in extra-time.

Perth coach Ramon Falzon said his side’s performance was a marked improvement on a fortnight ago when Inglewood pinned them back, albeit fleetingly, in the race for the league title.

“We were awake today,” he said. “I thought our first half was really good but we should have scored more.”

“Second half started well but Inglewood started putting pressure, which serves as a lesson. When we have the opportunities to finish off the game we must take the game to a 2-0 lead.

“In extra time from our side it was just defend, keep the result, get to penalties.”

Falzon also spoke highly of captain and versatile midfielder Keltie, who played up front due to the suspension of key striker Gustavo Catarcione.

“We worked on it during the week so we were actually preparing for it. Tactically I think it worked fine,” he said.

Perth were on the front foot early with Francesco Furfaro rattling the crossbar after just five minutes.

Keltie opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, slotting past Alex Dunn after getting on the end of a great ball from Furfaro.

Dunn did well to prevent his former side from doubling their lead, keeping out several long-range efforts from Matthew Milenkovic.

Moments into the second half Furfaro sent Keltie in on goal for a second time with another superb through ball, but the skipper fired wide under pressure from Dunn.

Inglewood’s defence held firm under long periods of pressure from Perth before turning momentum in their favour.

Substitute Scott Witschge proved the difference for the visitors when, moments after coming off the bench, he raced clear down the right and served as provider to target man Woodall.

After taking control of Witschge’s pass inside the area, Woodall turned and fired into the back of the net via the upright to level proceedings.

Inglewood dominated the closing stages of the 90 and carried that form through the majority of extra-time but failed to capitalise on an abundance of chances.

Penalties were the decider and both sides put on a clinical display.

Adam Tong over-hit Inglewood’s third, and it proved to be the decider as Adrian Madaschi and Dino Topcagic went on to finish coolly for Perth.

Despite the result, Inglewood’s Taki Nicolaidis said he couldn’t be prouder of his side’s performance.

“We played some exceptionally good football but ultimately we didn’t get the result,” he said.

“We kept possession and broke them down quite a few times, especially late in the second half. In extra time we got in behind a few times, it’s just that final ball wasn’t quite there.”

Inglewood will now go on to face ECU Joondalup in a midweek preliminary final which, if they win, would see them face Perth again for the third time in less than four weeks.

The West Australian Top Four Cup, Major semi-final
Perth SC 1 (Keltie 32min)
Inglewood United 1 (Woodall 84)
Saturday, September 3, 2016
Dorrien Gardens
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Steven Gregory
Assistant referees: Josh Manella, Brendan Skinner

Perth won 5-4 on penalties
Penalty scorers
Perth: Keltie, Ambrogio, Milenkovic, Madaschi, Topcagic
Inglewood: O’Connell, Rosindale, Blackmore, Woodall

Perth: GK Francis SOALE, 4. Adrian MADASCHI, 6. Clark KELTIE (c), 7. Aleksander JOVIC (14. Dino TOPCAGIC 61), 10. Nicholas AMBROGIO, 11. Matthew MILENKOVIC, 12. Jordan DE LEO, 13. Rocco PIZZATA, 15. Harley ORR (16. Thomas JEBB 72), 17. Francesco FURFARO (19. Vasco DASILVA 90), 18. Alex SILLA
Substitutes not used: RGK Daniel PASSARELLI, 2. David FILLIPPOU
Yellow cards: Orr 28
Red cards: nil

Inglewood: GK Alex DUNN, 3. David CYRUS (c), 4. Scott BLACKMORE, 5. Adam TONG, 6. Callum O’CONNELL, 7. Kenny KEOGH (10. Ash ROSINDALE 62), 8. Jason BARRERA, 9. Brian WOODALL, 11. John MIGAS, 14. Mark PRITCHARD (13. Josh PEREIRA 69), 17. Tim ROBERTSON (12. Scott WITSCHGE 83)
Substitutes not used: RGK Scott WALLIS, 18. Jason COLLI
Yellow cards: Rosindale 64, O’Connell 90+1
Red cards: nil