A second half double from Andrija Jukic has helped the Perth Glory National Youth League side finish off the season in style with a convincing 4-0 victory over the Newcastle Jets at BGC Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Glory started like a rocket, opening the scoring through Reece Vittiglia in the fourth minute. But the hosts struggled to turn their monopoly on possession and shots on target into goals, failing to add to their total before half-time.
Three minutes into the second half, that all changed when Ludovic Boi fired home to double the advantage before Jukic stepped up to the plate, the Glory’s National Youth League skipper finishing off goals in the 60th and 78th minutes in style after struggling to hit the target before the break.
In the first minute of injury time, Jukic had an opportunity to grab his second hat-trick of the season, but the 22-year-old sent the ball over the bar with the goal at his mercy after receiving a quality cross from Boi.
The victory sees Perth end the inaugural National Youth League season in fourth on the table as Newcastle finish last, with Jukic’s goals earning him the Glory’s Golden Boot award for the campaign, his six goals edging out Anthony Skorich with five.
On an overcast and cool afternoon in Perth, Vittiglia ignited the contest in the fourth minute. There appeared little danger as he took the ball well into his own half, but the forward accelerated down the right before cutting inside and storming into goal, sending a low shot past Jets’ stopper Ben Kennedy.
Chances to Jukic and Vittiglia came and went begging before the 16th minute when Newcastle threatened for the first time as Brodie Mooy’s high cross became caught in a swirling breeze.
Glory ‘keeper Dejan Aleksic took hold of it but crashed into the upright, allowing the ball to spill loose. But centre back Steven Hesketh was on hand to clear the danger.
Three minutes later a neat flick by Newcastle’s Matt Comerford released the impressive Simon Mooney, who crossed in for striker Ben Martin to force a save from Aleksic.
In the 22nd minute, Martin found himself through on goal once more but Aleksic did well to come off his line and force the never-say-die striker into a wider angle, the ball eventually being blocked once more.
Newcastle’s time in attack, proved only a brief respite however as the hosts assumed control of possession once more and upped the attack.
Boi and Ryan Pearson both had good chances to add to Perth’s lead in the 28th minute as they found themselves through on goal, but Kennedy did well to smother their efforts, the ‘keeper excelling as he kept out several shots from Jukic and saw a dipping effort from Vittiglia sail narrowly over the bar.
But the Newcastle goal had been living a charmed life in the first half and that couldn’t last as the tigerish Boi, belted an unstoppable finish past Kennedy in the 48th minute.
With the floodgates open, the goals started to flow for a Glory side that so often dominated possession throughout the season only to let itself down in front of goal.
On the hour, Boi showed great persistence as he ran 20 metres to win the ball in a tackle, slipping it to Hayden Doyle whose through ball released Jukic on the left, the captain cutting inside towards goal and finishing with aplomb.
Jukic was then put through once more but was denied by another excellent Kennedy smother. But the highly-skilled forward was not to be denied, Jukic earning his second 12 minutes from time when another Doyle through ball saw him accelerate towards goal.
Once again Kennedy attempted the smother, but Jukic put enough on the ball to see it clip the goalkeeper’s arms, the forward running into goal and slipping it into an empty net for the fourth of the afternoon.
Perth Glory 4 (Vittiglia 4, Boi 48, Jukic 60, 78)
Newcastle Jets 0
