NPL Night Series: Floreat, Perth SC in final
Football West News
Floreat Athena survived a Gwelup fightback to reach the final. Photo by FotoEnzo
Floreat Athena are one game from an unprecedented third successive NPL Night Series title following their 4-2 semi-final win over Gwelup Croatia.
Floreat will take on Perth SC in next Saturday’s final. The Azzurri advanced thanks to a penalty shootout triumph over Perth Glory.
Athena looked set for a comfortable passage to the final when they led 3-0 with under half-an-hour remaining at Frank Drago Reserve. Noah Shamaki struck on 14 minutes, then Phil Arnold and Nick Ambrogio got in on the act early in the second half.
However, Gwelup weren’t going down without a fight and a quickfire double from Jon Stynes suddenly ignited new life into the tie.
But deep in injury time Liam Murray had the final word to snuff out Gwelup’s fightback.
Perth SC celebrate beating Perth Glory on penalties. Photo by FotoEnzo
That match came after the game between Perth SC and Glory, which finished 1-1 before Perth SC went through on penalties.
In-form Carlo Armiento scored for Glory before Andreas Theodosiades equalised with his second in as many weeks.
That was the end of the scoring and the game went to spot-kicks. Perth SC scored all five, leaving Glory to rue Armiento’s miss.
The final between Floreat and Perth SC will be at Inglewood United’s Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium on Saturday, 7 March, kick-off 7pm. It will be preceded by the NPL Women’s Night Series final at 5pm.
The semi-finals of the State League Night Series were also decided on Saturday, with both matches at Wanneroo City one-sided affairs.
Olympic Kingsway easily defeated Frematle City 6-2, while Western Knights thrashed holders Forrestfield United 7-1.
Olympic Kingsway will host the final against Knights at Kingsway Reserve on Sunday, 8 March.
RESULTS
NPL Night Series semi-finals
Perth SC 1-1 Perth Glory (Perth SC win 5-3 on pens)
Gwelup Croatia 2-4 Floreat Athena
at Frank Drago Reserve
State League Night Series semi-finals
Olympic Kingsway 6-2 Fremantle City
Forrestfield United 1-7 Western Knights
at Wanneroo City SC
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