Perth Glory has made a dominant start to their tour of Malaysia, downing local Premier League side Sarawak FA 7-1 at Stadium Negeri in Kuching on Saturday night.
In the first of two matches during their tour of Asia, Tony Popovic’s men had too much class for their local opponents as they claimed the inaugural Symposium Cup.
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Left wing-back Jason Davidson helped himself to two goals before the break, with Diego Castro, Chok Dau, Henry Hore, Brendon Santalab and an own-goal from Sabri completing the scoring.
It was an impressive display from the Hyundai A-League club, who made light of oppressively warm and humid conditions, with the only negative from the night being a head injury sustained by Tando Velaphi.
The Glory ‘keeper was involved in a completely accidental collision with Sarawak striker Bobby on the stroke of half-time and was subsequently helped from the field before being taken to hospital for scans.
The latest news on Tando Velaphi is that he's being kept in hospital overnight so that his head/facial injury can be fully assessed.
He was involved in a collision with @swkfa striker Bobby during tonight's game.
We'll bring you more details once they become available.— Perth Glory FC (@PerthGloryFC) August 11, 2018
Earlier, Velaphi had been a spectator for much of the first half as Glory dominated.
The visitors’ first goal arrived after 26 minutes and it was created and finished in Spain as Juande picked out compatriot Castro with a clever chip and the former Johnny Warren Medal winner looped a header past teenage debutant Saiful in the home goal.
Less than a minute later, it was 2-0.
Overlapping down the left to great effect, Davidson had already been denied by Saiful in the early stages, but he made no mistake when Joel Chianese picked him out at the back post for a second time, powering home a close-range header.
The luckless Sabri then unwittingly diverted Fabio Ferreira’s cross into his own net before Yagoub Mustafa unselfishly teed Davidson up for his second as half-time approached.
Having made five changes at the break, it took Glory a while to settle into the second half and they were stung 13 minutes in when substitute Badrol played Mateo in on goal and the Croatian frontman calmly beat Liam Reddy.
Normal service swiftly resumed, however, as Chok Dau restored his side’s four-goal advantage by slotting home after cutting in from the right at pace.
Glory midfielder Henry Hore discusses his fine goal in the 7-1 win over @swkfa #SarawakGlory #OneGlory pic.twitter.com/Vk7CSlvSGT
— Perth Glory FC (@PerthGloryFC) August 11, 2018
Glory’s sixth goal was the pick of the bunch, Hore thumping home a stunning first-time volley from just outside the box and the rout was completed right at the death when another substitute, Santalab, turned cleverly and found the bottom corner.
The second tour game is scheduled for Wednesday evening against the Sarawak State Team.
Glory claim the Symposium Cup with a comfortable victory over @swkfa in Kuching.#SarawakGlory #OneGlory pic.twitter.com/Qt61X4Adi4
— Perth Glory FC (@PerthGloryFC) August 11, 2018
