An injury-time penalty from striker Million Buttshire has seen the Perth Glory National Youth League side claim a thrilling come-from-behind 3-2 win over the Australian Institute of Sport at ME Bank Stadium.
Powered by a double to former Glory Youth striker Eli Babalj, the AIS led 2-1 at half-time before a second-half brace from Buttshire saw Perth storm into the lead in the most dramatic circumstances.
The result is the Glory’s second National Youth League win in succession but it came at a cost as regular first-team defender Jimmy Downey was stretchered off in the 40th minute with an injury to his left knee.
The match started in the worst possible way for Perth as it conceded in just the fifth minute when a miscued clearance from goalkeeper Alex Pearson fell perfectly for Babalj to slam into the back of the net.
The AIS continued to press but could only create half-chances before Perth stepped up the intensity, Buttshire sending a weak shot at AIS stopper Lawrence Thomas.
The Glory levelled in the 21st minute though when AIS defender Sam Galloway slipped, allowing Buttshire to claim possession and square the ball for a lively Ludovic Boi, who slammed it home.
The Glory kept on creating chances but found themselves behind again in the 32nd minute when an unfortunate Downey clipped Mustafa Amini in the area, allowing Babalj to fire in the second from the spot.
Boi continued to threaten with his pace and skill, earning a penalty for his side two minutes after the break. But Reece Vittiglia skied his effort from the spot and the chance was lost.
But the Glory levelled proceedings in the 71st minute when a flowing move ended in a goalmouth scramble, Buttshire picking his spot and burying the equaliser.
The AIS lifted the intensity towards the end as Babalj blasted a shot over nine minutes from time before Amini fired into the post from a tight angle.
In the 86th minute Glory goalkeeper Alex Pearson bravely saved the ball with his feet as Amini closed in to score the winner and the AIS’s profligacy came back to haunt it as Perth countered in style.
A flowing move finished with Ryan Edwards cutting the ball back from the right, only for Glen Trifiro to earn the penalty when he was crudely brought down in the area by Trent Sainsbury.
Perth Glory 3 (Boi 21, Buttshire 71, 90p)
AIS 2 (Babalj 5, 32)
