Perth Glory finished 2018 as the Hyundai A-League leaders after Fabio Ferreira’s brace helped seal a 4-1 win at his former club Central Coast Mariners on New Year’s Eve.
Andy Keogh hit a double either side of flying winger Ferreira’s maiden Glory goals as Tony Popovic’s men moved three points clear in first.
Jordan Murray grabbed a late consolation for the Mariners by opening his account as a professional but it wasn’t enough to keep Mike Mulvey’s from the disappointment of an eighth straight defeat.
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Glory got the party started early as Ivan Franjic’s cross towards Joel Chianese spilled to Keogh for a simple finish on the follow-up in the third minute, the striker curtailing a five-game drought.
Tomi Mrcela then put both the ball and himself in the back of the net from an offside position, the defender succeeding only in damaging the post and forcing a long delay.
Temporary goals were erected at both ends but Perth lost none of their scoring nous as they notched twice more before the break.
Ferreira opened his account by coolly nodding home Jason Davidson’s classy left-sided delivery midway through the half and made it a double when his attempted cross looped over Adam Pearce and inside the top-left corner moments before half-time.
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Jake McGing prevented Chianese from extending the advantage after the interval before the deficit was reduced on 77 minutes.
The fit-again Tommy Oar, on as a second-half substitute, crossed invitingly to the far post and Matt Simon nodded into Murray’s path for a poacher’s finish at close range.
But as fireworks lit up the Gosford skyline in the closing stages, it was only Glory left celebrating with Keogh adding the icing two minutes into added time, a cool finish completing a strong response to the recent loss to Sydney FC.
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