Report by Peter Simcox

Photo by Fotoenzo

Perth SC have progressed to the McInerney Ford Top Four Cup Preliminary Final after a clinical 4-1 win against Sorrento in the Minor Semi-Final at Dorrien Gardens on Saturday.

Scottish midfielder Lewis Milne gave the home side the lead midway through the first half, before Frank Furfaro doubled their lead on the stroke of half time.
 
Sorrento gave themselves a lifeline in first half stoppage time when Scottish striker George Hunter pulled one back, but second half goals from Nicholas Ambrogio and another from Furfaro gave Ramon Falzon’s side the win.
 
The win gives Perth a place in Wednesday’s Preliminary Final against Inglewood United at the Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium, while the season is over for Sorrento.
 
Falzon thought his side dominated for most of the game.
 
“I was really pleased with the way we played tonight except for the first 20 minutes,” he said.

“We created some good chances and got the two goal lead, which we had spoken about pre-game, but we stuffed it up in stoppage time.
 
“We have the best defensive record in the league this season, and we were determined not to concede another goal late.”

Falzon said his side will go into their match against Perth full of confidence.

“When we played them last time we were narrowly beaten, and we had ten men for the whole second half.”
 
“(Inglewood) have had a good season, but we will be doing all we can to get the win to seal a spot in the grand final.”

It was Sorrento who opened the brighter and Tim Hill fired wide from Scott Witschge’s cross after only two minutes, before Scott Bulloch’s shot on the run was saved low by Francis Soale.
 
Perth hit back and Sorrento keeper James Morgan had to be alert to push Milne’s free kick around the post, before Furfaro’s low shot flashed wide of the target.
 
It was end-to-end football and Bulloch headed straight at Soale for Sorrento, before Perth’s Gustavo Catarcione was sent clear by a poor back pass and James Morgan stood tall to deny the Brazilian striker.   
 
Perth made the breakthrough on 38 minutes as Milne’s long-range free kick crept under James Morgan at his post, much to the relief of the home supporters.
 
The home side doubled their lead six minutes later. Furfaro played a neat one-two on the edge of the penalty area with Catarcione and raced into the area and finished clinically.
 
It looked like Perth were going into the sheds with a two goal lead, but in stoppage time a mix up at the back let in Hunter, and the former St Johnstone and Airdrieonians striker lobbed it over the on-coming Soale to make it 2-1 at the break.
 
Sorrento were on the front foot early in the second half, and Soale saved well to deny Alex Morgan, before the Perth custodian produced a stunning reflex save to thwart Witschge’s close-range header on 53 minutes.
 
That save become more important, as three minutes later Perth regained their two goal advantage. Adrian Madaschi’s free kick was well saved by James Morgan, but Ambrogio was quickest to react, firing home the rebound from close-range.
 
Then ten minutes later the game was made safe when Perth added a fourth, Furfaro firing home after being picked out by Catarcione.
 
Sorrento ended the game well but they couldn’t find a way past Soale, who produced a stunning triple save to deny Danny Jones twice, and Scott Johnson late.
 
Perth ran out convincing winners and now set their sights on Inglewood United on Wednesday evening, as they look to regain their Top Four Cup crown.  

Perth SC 4 (Milne 38min, Furfaro 44, 67, Ambrogio 57)
Sorrento 1 (Hunter 45+min)
Saturday, September 2, 2017
Dorrien Gardens
Kick-off: 6pm
Referee: Matthew Southern
Assistant Referees: Stuart Muldoon, Julian Serra
Fourth Official: Tom Glavovic

Perth SC: GK Francis SOALE (c), 2 Alex SILLA, 3 Andreas THEODOSIADES (7 Aleks JOVIC 68’), 4 Adrian MADASCHI, 9 Gustavo CATARCIONE (21 Paul ZIMARINO 79’), 10 Nicholas AMBROGIO, 13 Rocco PIZZATA, 15 Harley ORR, 16 Kieran COLWELL, 17 Frank FURFARO (20 Elliot TATTERSAL 74’), 18 Lewis MILNE
Substitutes not used: RGK Malek KUC, 11 Matthew MILENKOVIC
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil
 
Sorrento: GK James MORGAN, 3 George HUNTER, 4 Shaun KILKELLY (5 Scott JOHNSON 77’), 6 Daryl PLATTEN (c), 7 Alex MORGAN, 8 Ryan PEARSON, 10 Scott BULLOCH (2 Jacob SHORE 72’), 11 Tim HILL, 12 Joshua TUCKER (21 Danny JONES 72’), 13 Steve MCDONALD, 14 Scott WITSCHGE
Substitutes not used:  RGK Connor CAMPBELL, 18 Jordan BROWN
Yellow cards: Bulloch 55’, Platten 57’, Kilkelly 65’, Hunter 88’
Red cards: nil