Report by Paul J. Laverty

A Gustavo Catarcione double helped champions Perth SC ease past newly promoted Mandurah City in a spirited season opener.

Under lights at Dorrien Gardens, it was Mandurah who started the brighter side with captain Andrew Brown striding through the Sky Blues defence only to be foiled by the feet of Francis Soale in goal.

Perth were patient and slowly found their groove, and on 33 minutes it almost paid off when a defence-splitting pass by Harley Orr sent Niccolo Sabatini clear on goal only for Bradley Eiffee to react, quickly racing off his line to block the effort with his arm.

In first-half stoppage time it was Catarcione who brought the game to life with a piece of magic when he neatly collected the ball and sent a 25 metre curler around the keeper to put the champions in front at the break.

Perth lifted the tempo in the second-half and in the 53rd minute it was Catarcione again who broke the Mandurah offside trap and sidestepped the keeper to make it 2-0.

Mandurah were not about to lie down and responded quickly when Ryan Francis chipped a ball over the defence for Daniel Dyson streaming forward only to see his effort agonisingly rebound off the post.

Moments later City had another chance when Brown neatly clipped a pass through to Craig Tone but with the goal gaping he dragged his shot wide.

They eventually got the goal they deserved when the mercurial Brown dinked another delicate ball over the static Perth defence. Centre-half, Oscar Thompson finished neatly with an ice-cool over lob over the stranded Soale.

It was the champions who showed their experience and sealed victory with Catarcione turning provider as he unselfishly headed the ball across the face of the Mandurah goal finding Nicolas Ambrogio who made no mistake to make it 3-1, ending Mandurah’s hopes of an upset result.

City manager Doug Hesketh was proud of his side’s debut showing in the top-flight and believed it built a platform for the year ahead.

“We’ve been playing good football for two years in a league that’s tough to get out of but they’re a top team and you make a little mistake you get punished” he said.

“We have to focus on the positives though. I think we’ve got a few surprises for the other teams and I think we can shake it up a bit.”

Perth coach Ramon Falzon was delighted with his side’s start to the season after a stern test but played down Perth’s chances of repeating last year’s double-winning heroics.

“It’s a long journey and last season was so tight at the top, so we’ll just focus on the next game.”

Perth SC 3 (Catarcione 45min, 53, Ambrogio 76)
Mandurah City 1 (Thompson 65)
Saturday, February 18, 2017
Dorrien Gardens
Kick-off: 7.00pm
Referee: Nico Hoyle
Assistant referees: Stuart Muldoon, Darren Quinlin

Perth SC: 1. Francis SOALE (gk), 2. Alex SILLA, 4. Adrian MADASCHI, 5. Niccolo SABATINI, 6. Clark KELTIE (c), 8. Tom KING (20. Thomas JEBB 90), 9. Gustavo CATARCIONE, 10. Nicholas AMBROGIO (16. Paul ZIMMARINO 78), 13. Rocco PIZZATA, 15. Harley ORR (17. Frank FURFARO 88), 19. Roberto DEL BORRELLO
Substitutes not used: 14. Cameron TEECE, 23. Daniel PASSARELLI
Yellow cards: Ambrogio, Silla, Sabatini
Red cards: nil

Mandurah City: 1. Bradley EIFFE (gk), 2. Mitchell FIRTH, 3. Jeffrey BRIGHT, 4. Matthew STARES, 5. Daniel DYSON, 6. Oscar THOMPSON, 8. Andrew BROWN (c), 9. Ryan FRANCIS (12. Jordan RHODES 78) 10. Sean TROUP (7. Jack EADES 69), 11. Craig TONE, 17. Oriol FERNANDEZ (14. Joseph O’BRIEN 35)
Substitutes not used: 6. Thomas STRAKER, 21. Cyril SHARROCK
Yellow cards: Bright
Red cards: nil