Report by Chris Caldwell

Photo by Fotoenzo

Current PS4 NPLWA champions Perth SC produced a second half revival at Dorrien Gardens to come from behind and defeat Perth Glory 2-1.

Both sides went into the game keen for a reaction after losses last weekend – Perth SC 2-1 at Bayswater and Glory 4-0 at home to Balcatta – but it was the home side who will be the happier after Gustavo Catarcione’s second half brace helped Ramon Falzon’s men overhaul Joseph Knowle’s crisp fourth minute free kick for the win.

The Azzurri were lucky to only be one goal down after a lacklustre first half and Falzon admitted there were strong words at the break.

“Half-time was not pleasant for some of the players,” he said with a wry smile.

“The first half we just weren’t there. We were off the pace, too many mistakes. We worked tactically during the week, but we weren’t hitting the right areas, regaining possession and then after one pass giving it back to them – too many errors.

“Credit to them, they took the opportunity. Apart from the goal, they had other chances from outside the penalty area. At half-time we persisted on what our game plan was during the week. The boys stepped up in the second half, there was more intensity – what an effort.

“It was vital to get a win this week, not just in terms of points and confidence but I always believe that good teams that will be up there challenging at the end of the year, when they get a knock and are down on their knees, they get up immediately and getting that reaction, especially in the second half, proved we’re hungry.”

In the first half, Glory looked a transformed side from a week before. They were swift, decisive and deservedly led when Knowles placed a 20 yard free kick past Francis Soale.

It could have been even better for John Gibson’s men had Knowles and Kosta Petratos been more clinical before the break.

After the interval, the roles were reversed as the home side looked re-energised and hungry for the fight. With Frank Furfaro in incisive form on the left, there was little Glory could do to stop him picking out Catarcione for a close range equaliser on 52 minutes, and nine minutes later Kieran Colwell’s piercing cross from the left led to the Brazillian doubling his tally and sealing the win.

In between Catarcione’s brace, Furfaro forced Jordan Thurtell into a smart save after dancing past Luca Bodnar.

Michael McDougall was inches from claiming a point for Glory with a drive from 18 yards right at the death.

“They are the champions, so they are a pretty good side and they have a magnificent forward in Gustavo [Catarcione], who is quality for them,” observed Gibson.

“First half, I thought we were excellent. Obviously, they changed it up a bit in the second half for about five or 10 minutes and they capitalised, took their chances. But I thought we were pretty good today and I thought we were super for large parts of the game.”

Perth SC 2 (Catarcione 52min, 61)
Perth Glory 1 (Knowles 4)
Saturday, March 18, 2017
Dorrien Gardens
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Michal Jasinski
Assistant Referees: Shou Chen and Simon Hicks

Perth SC: 1. Francis SOALE (gk), 2. Alex SILLA, 3. Andreas THEODOSIADES (7. Aleks JOVIC, 87), 4. Adrian MADASCHI (Cpt), 9. Gustavo CATARCIONE, 10. Nicholas AMBROGIO (8, Tom KING, 46), 11. Matthew MILENKOVIC, 13. Rocco PIZZATA, 15. Harley ORR, 16. Kieran COLWELL, 17. Frank FUFARO (12. Jordan DE LEO, 78)
Substitutes not used: 19. Roberto DEL BORRELLO, 23. Daniel PASSARELLI.
Yellow cards: Orr 37; Theodosiades 65
Red cards: nil

Perth Glory: 1. Jordan THURTELL, 2. Bayley MONTGOMERY-BROWN, 3. Luca BODNAR, 4. Jack IREDALE, 5. Walter SCOTT (13. Riley WARLAND, 62), 6. Jack LEECH, 7. Yacoub MUSTAFA, 8. Callum TIMMINS (14, Mitch OXBORROW, 61), 9. Joseph KNOWLES (12. Michael MCDOUGAL, 77), 10. Daniel STYNES (Cpt), 11. Kosta PETRATOS
Substitutes not used: 20. Stef KING, 15. Sam RIAK
Yellow cards: Scott 38; Leech 60; Knowles 73; Bodnar 75
Red cards: nil