Diego Castro and Bruno Fornaroli turned on the style as Perth Glory demolished Newcastle Jets 6-2 in Saturday night’s Hyundai A-League clash.
Castro and Fornaroli each hit doubles as the reigning Premiers turned in a comprehensive attacking display in WA, one which lifts Glory into fourth position courtesy of their third straight win.
Although the Jets fired a warning shot when Jason Hoffman’s header was ruled out for offside, Perth hit the front through Castro’s sublime free kick.
Newcastle hit back through a glorious set piece routine finished off by Nikolai Topor-Stanley, but Glory responded instantly as Kantarovski felled James Meredith inside the box and left Neil Kilkenny to slide in the resulting penalty.
Tony Popovic’s side flew out of the blocks in the second half and punished Newcastle when Koutroumbis gave the ball away cheaply, leaving Joel Chianese to rifle an effort into the top left hand corner.
The visitors mustered another response via Steven Ugarkovic’s first goal in over two years but Bruno Fornaroli gave Perth breathing room once more by notching a deflected effort, and then compounding Newcastle’s misery by finishing emphatically on 70 minutes.
Castro added a sixth with a lovely counter attacking goal to seal a masterful performance.
Key moments
Castro curls Glory ahead
Perth’s mercurial Spaniard had HBF Park rocking with this perfectly placed free kick on 15 minutes.
Castro gave Jets’ keeper Moss no chance, and capped an entertaining start to the match with his 44th Hyundai A-League goal in Glory colours.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6117485927001
Topor-Stanley nods Jets level
Glory’s lead did not last long and the Jets equalised via a set-piece goal of their own.
Petratos’ clipped delivery was superbly weighted, Newcastle kept it alive via the heads of Jackson and Millar, and Topor-Stanley was there unmarked for a rare goal.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6117488955001
Glory start the second half with a bang
Perth wasted no time in adding to their lead after the interval. Glory pounced on a giveaway from Jets’ midfielder Johnny Koutroumbis, resulting in Chianese firing a powerful effort past Moss.
It was just reward for the ex-Sydney FC man, who had replaced Chris Ikonomidis in Popovic’s starting line up for the visit of Newcastle.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6117488389001
Fornaroli makes it five
Fornaroli put Perth into the clear with his deflected first on 58 minutes, and soon after the sent Glory out of side.
This was the diminutive Uruguayan at his best, shifting the ball through a crowd of defenders before lashing an unstoppable shot past Moss.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6117493197001
Round 12
Newcastle Jets v Brisbane Roar
McDonald Jones Stadium
Saturday, 28 December 2019
Kick off 7.30pm AEDT
Central Coast Mariners v Perth Glory
Central Coast Stadium
Tuesday, 31 December 2019
Kick off: 7.00pm AEDT
