Joel Chianese scored twice as Perth Glory breathed life into their Finals Series hopes in a 3-1 home win over Central Coast Mariners on Saturday night.
Chianese was on target either side of half-time and Xavi Torres curled in a wicked late free-kick to move the hosts within three points of Adelaide United.
Andrew Hoole had cut the deficit with a stunning strike 20 minutes from time, but Torres’ effort ended any chance of a Mariners comeback as they remain off the pace in ninth.
Catch up with all the highlights and stats in our match centre!
STORY OF THE GAME
- POST: Torres rises high to meet Scott Neville’s cross, but his header comes back off the base of the upright.
- SAVE: Nick Feely, standing in for the suspended Liam Reddy, is well placed to parry Andrew Hoole’s free-kick.
- GOAL! Chianese nods in Neil Kilkenny’s corner to break the deadlock on the half-hour.
- CHANCE: Torres can’t beat Ben Kennedy after a corner broke kindly for him at the back post.
- BLOCK: Joseph Mills puts his body on the line to blanket Trent Buhagiar’s attempt.
- GOAL! Chianese makes it a double on the hour after Andy Keogh is denied by the post.
- GOAL! Central Coast cut the deficit courtesy of a stunning Hoole effort from outside the area.
- RULED OUT: Chris Harold has the ball in the net with a smart header, but the VAR intervenes after spotting Keogh’s elbow on Alan Baro in the lead-up.
- GOAL! Torres makes the game safe with a terrific free-kick just shy of stoppage time.
GOALS
Joel Chianese, Perth Glory 29′: 1-0
Kilkenny’s corner drifts through to the far post where Chianese buries a downward header.
Joel Chianese, Perth Glory 61′: 2-0
Andy Keogh loses two markers inside the area only to see his shot on the turn come back off the post, but the rebound falls straight to Chianese to tuck away.
Andrew Hoole, Central Coast Mariners 72′: 2-1
From around 20 yards, Hoole looks up and curls an exquisite finish in off the right post. Sublime from the Mariners winger.
Xavi Torres, Perth Glory 89′: 3-1
Brilliant from Torres to get a free-kick up and over the wall, beating Kennedy at his near post.
