Perth Glory have downed Melbourne Heart 4-1, with two of their three second-half goals during stoppage time at John Cain Memorial Reserve.
Perth Glory have downed Melbourne Heart 4-1 in the National Youth League in a result that blew out as Perth scored two of their three second-half goals during stoppage time at John Cain Memorial Reserve.
Promising Glory striker Ndumba Makeche scored a brace for his side, to go with goals from Harry O’Brien and former Heart player Adrian Zahra, while Josh Gromewall posted the only goal for the Melbourne team.
On a beautifully sunny afternoon, Heart created their first good chance 14 minutes in when Stipo Andrijasevic recovered a Perth turnover 20 yards out, but his strike was comfortably saved by Glory’s Jordan Franken.
It was Makeche, though, who started the scoring, netting the opener for Perth with a tap-in finish at the 17th minute when Riley Woodcock’s corner fell to ground in the penalty box.
In the 24th minute Makeche fouled Heart stopper Andrew Redmayne as he chased a long ball to the top of the box.
Both players had eyes for the ball as they collided strongly but it was a good illustration of Perth’s intent to directly attack the Heart goal in the opening half.
The Heart found their equaliser from a corner in the 33rd minute when Nicholas Epifano sent a ball to the far post which was headed home by captain Josh Gromewall.
Melbourne’s Stipo Andrijasevic delivered a running-through ball to Epifano on the right-side but his shot under pressure was easily dealt with in the 38th minute as scores stood tied at one apiece after an even opening 45.
Perth’s Brandon O’Neil started the second-period with a wayward-long strike after Groenewald received a yellow card two minutes in for blocking Makeche’s run on the left wing.
Glory Substitute Harry Obrien then missed a header when unmarked in the box in the 73rd minute but broke lose again a minute later as he converted with a powerful finish to the top-right corner to reclaim Perth’s lead.
With the Glory gathering momentum Heart hit back on the counter attack and Petreski had a late chance with four minutes remaining but deflected his free kick attempt off the wall.
In the 90th minute Adrian Zahra doubled Perth’s advantage after Makeche forced a spectacular save from Redmayne, which gifted the winger his shot at the back post as the rebound fell kindly for the former Heart man.
Makeche then won a penalty in the 92nd minute which he powered home for his second goal to secure the victory for Perth and give them their second win for the season to go with two defeats.
Melbourne Heart, meanwhile, also have two wins and two losses defeating Brisbane Roar 2-1 last weekend.
Melbourne Heart 1 (Joshua Groenewald 33)
Perth Glory 4 (Ndumba Makeche 17, 90, Harry Obrien 74, Adrian Zahra 90)
Melbourne Heart: 1. Alastair Bray 4. Andrew Mullet, 5. Zac Walker, 6. Joshua Groenewald (c), 7. Ersin Kaya, 8. Paulo Retre, 9. Evangelos Batsis (3. Anthony Cartanos 60), 10. Stefan Mauk, 11. Golgol Mebrahtu (12. Philip Petreski 60), 14. Stipo Andrijasevic, 15. Nicholas Epifano, (2. Jeremy Walker 60), 16.Andrew Redmayne (gk)
Perth Glory 1. Devon Spence (GK), 2. Mathew Davies, 4. Jacob Collard (15. Lawrence Sharuma 60) 5. Riley Woodcock, 6. Brandon O’Neil, 7. Adrian Zahra, 8. Blamo Quaqua (12. Moses Kalau 60), 9. Ndumba Makeche 10. Jesse Makarounas 11. Ryo Nagai (13. Harry O’Brien 60), 16. Jordan Franken (gk) 17. Ryan Lowry
