Perth Glory rediscovered some scintillating form to thrash the Newcastle Jets 4-0 at ME Bank Stadium on Boxing Day to re-enter the A-League’s top six.
Two goals to Jamie Harnwell, and one each to Naum Sekulovski and Mile Sterjovski saw the Glory win their first game since their November 22 home victory over Sydney FC.
The Glory had just one win, five losses and three draws from their last nine matches to slip to seventh position on the table, and despite losing Victor Sikora (thigh), Wayne Srhoj (knee) and Eugene Dadi (illness) in the lead up to the game, turned on a clinic to storm up to fifth spot.
The Jets had been in great form winning four straight games to move into the top four themselves and still remain in fourth position, two points ahead of both the Glory and Brisbane Roar, despite the heavy loss.
Newcastle ‘keeper Neil Young made a strong start to his evening with a tremendous save on the first real meaningful attacking move of the match in the 12th minute.
Adriano Pellegrino put a great ball out in front of Harnwell who put it out in front of Sterjovski and he got a good shot off that was on target, but Young flew to his left and tipped it over the bar.
The Glory kept attacking, though, and won a free kick just outside the box.
Sekulovski took it, nailed it along the ground, right by the wall of Newcastle and then Young could only watch it slide into the net at his left.
It was Sekulovski’s first goal of the season and put the Glory right on track for a much-needed win after a disappointing two months.
There was more to come in the amazing first half for Perth and in the 24th minute the Glory’s favourite son Harnwell scored.
Sterjovski made a good run down the flank, delivered a decent ball inside the box and after the ball came off Nikolai Topor-Stanley’s head, Harnwell found the ball in his path and put it right past the hapless Young.
The Glory then earned a penalty in the 37th minute when Newcastle’s Ljubo Milicevic pulled back Sterjovski who was streaming towards goal.
Sterjovski took the penalty and nailed it nicely to put it inside the right post for his fifth goal of the season and give Perth a 3-0 half-time lead.
The Jets did their best to work back into the contest in the second half, but never seriously threatened to score.
The Glory put the game beyond any doubt with their fourth goal, and Harnwell’s second, when Jacob Burns set up Scott Neville, who crossed it to Harnwell who headed it home.
Jin-Hyung Song had been Newcastle’s liveliest player all game and took a terrific free kick in the 78th minute, but it was matched by a superb diving save by Tando Velaphi.
The Jets next face top-of-the-table Melbourne Victory at EnergyAustralia Stadium on January 10, while the Glory remain in Perth to play Sydney FC on the same date.
Perth Glory 4 (Sekulovski 19, Harnwell 24, 70, Sterjovski 37)
Newcastle Jets 0
Crowd: 9418 at ME Bank Stadium.
