Angel inspires Armadale victory
Report by Navrin Secker
Armadale recovered from a goal down to win 3-1 at ECU Joondalup. Photo by Peter Simcox
Angel Andres Rivera scored twice as Armadale moved up to third in the NPLWA Men's league with a 3-1 win at ECU Joondalup.
Danny Hodgson put the hosts in front in the 28th minute, but a second-half brace from Rivera and a late effort from Roberto De Freitas Soares ensured Armadale left with all three points.
Things looked good for ECU in the first half when centre-back Shane Cassidy played a superb ball to Ethan Brooks on the wing, and he slid a ball into the box for Hodgson to finish from close range.
The visitors had a great chance to equalise minutes later when Sebastian Stenqvist teed up De Freitas, but his shot sailed over the bar.
The Jacks pushed for another goal and looked the better side, but the score was 1-0 at the end of the first half.
Armadale came out firing in the second half and they equalised on 63 minutes. An off-the-ball altercation between Rivera and some ECU players resulted in an Armadale penalty, which Rivera converted.
Army had all the momentum and the ECU Joondalup players started to lose their cool, giving away silly fouls as their frustration got the better of them.
Stand-out player Rivera got his second with a spectacular overhead kick, capitalising on ECU goalkeeper Jack Perkins running out of goal but failing to clear the ball from Aly Nazary’s free-kick.
De Freitas rounded out a good performance from the visitors with a long-range goal via the post.
Teams and match details
Gwelup Croatia had plenty to celebrate as they beat Floreat Athena 3-0 to replace their rivals at the top of the table.
It was a complete performance by Taki Nicolaidis' side, who are three points clear and the only remaining unbeaten side in the division.
Hasani Sinclair scored the opening goal on 33 minutes. He beat Jason Saldaris to a long ball, rounded the Floreat keeper and scored from an acute angle.
The second came from the penalty spot six minutes after half time from Daniel Stynes, who had been tripped by Dennis Galan.
Sinclair made the game safe on 84 minutes with his second, collecting a headed pass from Jon Stynes before beating Saldaris low at his near post.
A stoppage-time goal from Michael Domfeh gave Perth SC their first league win of 2020 as they defeated Inglewood United 2-1.
Jayden Gorman got the visitors’ first early in the second half. He played a one-two with Aleksander Jovic, drove into the Inglewood box and produced a shot which keeper Alex Dunn failed to keep out.
Chris Jackson claimed Inglewood’s equaliser 15 minutes from the end, volleying in skipper Scott Blackmore’s clipped cross.
But moments after Perth had seen an effort from Gustavo Catarcione ruled out for offside, Andreas Theodosiades’ played a neat back-heel to Domfeh and the striker cleverly shot through the legs of Alexander Ishida-Livings and past the unsighted Dunn.
Rockingham City had keeper Brad Stout to thank after they earned their first point of the season.
Stout dived low to his left to save a 77th-minute penalty from Balcatta captain John Kearney as the sides played out a 0-0 draw.
Kearney’s spot-kick was the only recorded shot on target in the match but that won’t bother Rockingham.
Sorrento produced a second-half fightback as they came from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Cockburn City.
Cockburn looked set for three points thanks to Jesse Lazzaro's deflected drive and Julian Teles' follow-up finish.
However, it was a different story after the interval. Olle Annis pulled one back, finishing a move he had started second earlier.
Then Jakub Prajza's cross floated over keeper Luke Radonich’s head and into the far corner.
The ever-reliable Daryl Nicol scored the only goal in Bayswater City’s 1-0 victory over Perth Glory.
Nicol scored after Glory keeper Sam Reilly had been forced to dive and save Alessandro Circati’s back-pass on the goalline.
That gave Bayswater an indirect free-kick on the edge of the six-yard box. The ball was tapped to Nicol and despite Glory having all players of the goalline, the Scot did well to get enough elevation on the ball and into the roof of the net.
Glory had one late effort cleared off the line but Bayswater did enough to force their second win of the campaign.
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