Report and Photo by Peter Simcox

Perth SC have kept their NPL WA title chances alive after a hard fought 2-1 win against ECU Joondalup at Dorrien Gardens.

First-half goals from Harley Orr and Frank Furfaro put the home side in control at the break, and despite ECU scoring late through Ethan Brooks it was too little, too late.

With Perth Glory's late collapse against Cockburn City, it means Perth are still in the hunt for the title, However this loss all but put an end to ECU’s top four hopes.

Perth head coach Ramon Falzon said it was the battle he expected that against a good ECU side.

“I thought we were superior in the first half and looked dangerous on the counter in the second and could have added a third,” he explained.

“But ECU have had a good season and they battled back and were very dangerous in the last 20

“But I was really pleased with the performance all over the pitch and we had to absorb their late pressure, so it goes down to the wire next week, like it did last season, and we will see how we go.”

Midfielder Orr, who was outstanding, said: “It was an awesome win for the boys saying what’s at stake, and with Glory drawing it keeps in the hunt for the league.

“We created some good chances today, and should have been further ahead, but we couldn’t put them away. But it’s down to the final game of the season, like it has in the past two seasons, and we’re looking forward to it."

Both sides knew the importance of this match and it was the home side who made the better start. First Niccolò Sabatini cross picked out Tom King, who headed over the top, before Gustavo Catarcione raced clear but Johnny Perkins stood tall to save.

ECU settled and should have hit the front on 10 minutes. Daryl Nicol raced down the left and crossed from the byline to Lukas De Lima, but with the goal at his mercy he blazed over the top.

Nicol was in again moments later, a long ball from Adam Tong picked out the lively striker. He brought the ball down superbly and raced around the Perth keeper Francis Soale, but the angle was too tight and he could only fire into the side netting.

Perth were causing problems down the flanks with Furfaro a constant menace. They were in again on the half-hour, Catarcione waltzing past several ECU defenders, but his shot was always rising over the top.

But four minutes later the home side deservedly hit the front. Sabatini was brought down in the area by Tong and referee Adam Fielding had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Orr stepped up, and despite Perkins going the right way, he found the back of the net.

Perth then doubled their lead four minutes later. Paul Zimarino darted into the box, his shot was tipped onto the bar by Perkins, but the rebound fell to Furfaro who made no mistake.

ECU went close to reducing the margin in first-half stoppage time when Steven McGarry played in Nicol, who held off his marker but his shot on the run was saved by Soale.

The visitors made a double change at the break bringing on Brooks and Cameron Murray as they looked to get back into the game. But it was Perth who went close early, Catarcione shot on the tun was saved by Perkins.

Both sides had chances as the game became more open, and ECU pushed players forward. Tong headed wide on the hour, before Paul Zimarino's shot from the edge of the box was tipped over the top by Perkins at full stretch.

Perkins was keeping his side in the game, first the ECU keeper superbly saving a Furfaro shot before producing another top drawer save to deny Zimarino.

Then in the final minute the visitors pulled one back. Brookes was sent clear and the youngster finished clinically past Soale to set up a tense extra time. However Perth hung on to claim three valuable points.

The drama wasn't over there, with McGarry shown a second yellow card after the game and was sent off.

Coach Dale McCulloch said ECU would look for a spot in the finals until it was mathematically impossible, but admitted they were left to rue missed opportunities on the day.

“Both sides had good chances early but didn’t take them, and then they took the ascendency and we were playing catch-up,” he said.

“I thought in the second half we never took a backward step, and we just fell short, but we move to next week at home to Bayswater City and give it a red-hot crack.”        

Perth SC 2 (Orr pen 34min, Furfaro 38)
ECU Joondalup 1 (Brooks 90)
Saturday, August 18
Dorrien Gardens
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Adam Fielding
Assistant referees: Simon Hicks, Amit Hosany

Perth SC: GK Francis SOALE, 5 Niccolò SABATINI, 6 Harley ORR, 8 Tom KING, 9 Gustavo CATARCIONE (14 Kristian SANTICH 94), 10 Nicholas AMBROGIO, 11 Matthew MILENKOVIC, 12 Jordan DE LEO, 13 Rocco PIZZATA, 17 Frank FURFARO (4 Adrian MADASCHI 94), 20 Paul ZIMARINO
Substitutes not used: RGK Malek KUC, 16 Kieran COLWELL, 19 Ali NAZARY
Yellow cards: Catarcione 18’, Ambrogio 66, Zimarino 92
Red cards: Nil

ECU Joondalup: GK Johnny PERKINS, 2 Cian HIRRELL, 3 Ross MILLARD, 4 Steven McGARRY, 5 Adam TONG, 7 Tom HOUGH (15 Cameron MURRAY 46), 8 Josh WHITMORE, 9 Daryl NICOL (C), 10 Gordon SMITH, 11 Andy HIGGINS, 13 Lukas DE LIMA (14 Ethan BROOKS 46)
Substitutes not used: RGK Jack NUNN, 6 Harry EDWARDS, 12 Ryan MCDARBY, 14 Ethan BROOKS
Yellow cards: Whitmore 55’ Smith 57, McGarry 59, 94, Tong 77, Nicol 90
Red card: McGarry 94