WA State side stuns Perth Glory

 
WA 3 Perth Glory 2

Perth Glory suffered a surprise loss against the Western Australian state team in a friendly at the E&D Litis Stadium last night. The 3-2 victory was a great tonic for the WA side who travel to Indonesia next week, with Scott Bulloch scoring twice and Andrija Jukic once, while for the Glory Anthony Skorich and Brent Griffiths did their chances of a contract at the A League side no harm side by both scoring.

David Mitchell’s side opened brightly with Josip Magdic the main threat and they went close on seven minutes; Magdic’s run and cross found Eugene Dadi in the penalty area but Neil Young was out quick to save. Three minutes later Jamie Coyne’s 20-yard strike crashed off the post.

However the WA state side settled and they had their first opportunity on 15 minutes. Bulloch’s corner fell to Jukic, but his shot from 15-yards was into the side netting. The Perth SC midfielder went close again moments later; Dean Evans’ cross from the right was cleared by Hayden Foxe, but only as far as Jukic, whose volley sailed just wide of the target.

On 20 minutes it was the WA state side who hit the front with a well worked set piece. Mark Anthony’s free kick was headed back across goal by Ian McMurray and Bulloch headed home from close-range at the back post.

On the half hour Coyne limped out of the game and was replaced by Adriano Pellegrino. The Glory ended the half the better side and should have levelled on 42 minutes. Great work down the right by Dino Djulbic ended with cross to Eugene Dadi, but the Ivory Coast striker’s shot was blocked and Jamie Harnwell’s follow up flew wide.

At the break young Western Knights striker Skorich replaced Jamie Harnwell up front, and again the Glory began well. In the first minute James Downey’s cross found Magdic who fired his shot over the cross bar, and two minutes later Skorich headed straight at Young when well placed.

The Glory’s good start was rewarded on 54 minutes with an equaliser; Pellegrino intercepted a pass from the solid Keith Brown his run and cross from the right was tapped home by Skorich from close-range.

Glory keeper Alex Vrteski, who was a guest player on the night after a successful season in Macedonia, had to be alert on the hour, punching clear Jukic’s long-range strike and he was at his best again moments later to push a low Paul Harvey shot around the post.

Their was little the big keeper could do on 67 minutes when the state team regained the lead, following a corner on the left Jeff Bright found Bulloch on the edge of the box and his first time shot flew past Vrteski in to the top left hand corner of his goal.

There were chances at both ends with Harvey shooting straight at Vrteski after good work by Bulloch and Skorich’s shot deflected wide for a corner after a good cross from Magdic on the right.

From the resulting corner the Glory levelled, Dadi and Robinson played the corner short, and Robinson’s cross was headed home by Griffiths from close-range in the 75th minute.

Sixty seconds later the large crowd were on their feet again as the state team immediately responded. Marc Anthony’s ball was flicked on by McMurray and Jukic held off the last defender, Foxe, and audaciously lobbed the on-coming Vrteski to make it 3-2.

The Glory was down to ten men when Dadi limped off, but they still took the game to the state side. Robinson’s superb ball long pass sent Djulbic down the right on 82 minutes, his cross found Pellegrino 16-yards from goal, but his shot was well saved by Young.

McMurray could have added another for the state team when he was found unmarked from Jukic’s corner but Vrteski was alert to the danger and saved easily.

A great performance and win for the state side and after the game coach Robbie Dunn was delighted. “The boy’s played really well tonight, they were really disciplined and we scored some great goals,” said Dunn.

“Scotty Bulloch did a great job tonight at both ends of the pitch. He scored two goals but near the end went back for us when Jeff Bright got injured, he’s a good player and the Glory would do well to watch him,” added Dunn.

Teams
WA State Side – GK Neil Young (Sorrento), Jeff Bright, Keith Brown, Andy Brown (Mandurah City), Scott Bulloch (Sorrento), John Migas (Floreat Athena), Dean Evans, Mark Anthony (Stirling Lions), Johnny Mirco (Cockburn City)(Paul Harvey (Canning City 58), Andrija Jukic  (Perth SC), Ian McMurray (ECU Joondalup)
Subs not Used: Kenny Ftynogiannis (Balcatta)

Perth Glory – GK Alex Vrteski, Dino Djulbic, Mark Lee, David Tarka (Brent Griffiths 52), Hayden Foxe, Josip Magdic, James Downey, James Robinson, Jamie Coyne (Adriano Pellegrino 30), Eugene Dadi, Jamie Harnwell (Anthony Skorich 45)
Subs not used – Nil

Referee – Steven Gregory