Report by Tommy Doleman

Perth SC celebrate their title win. Photo by Football West/FotoEnzo

Second half goals from Andreas Theodosiades and Frank Furfaro gave Perth Soccer Club a 2-0 win over Armadale on Saturday to rubber-stamp a third NPL WA title in four years for the Azzurri.

The leaders knew victory would secure the championship with two matches remaining. However, Floreat Athena's surprising 2-1 home loss to ECU Joondalup meant Perth's result at Alfred Skeet Reserve was the icing on the cake.

Perth are 10 points clear of their nearest rivals, are the league’s top scorers and have the best defensive record. They are worthy champions in every sense of the word and will represent WA in next month’s NPL Finals Series, where they will face the champions of NPL Victoria in the Elimination Final.

As for Armadale, they are still point above bottom place following Stirling’s loss at Inglewood. They finish the season with games against Sorrento and ECU Joondalup as they bid to guarantee NPL WA safety.

Chances were few and far between in a first half where the final ball was lacking for both teams. Harley Orr was presented with Perth's best opportunity from the penalty spot but he put his effort wide of the target.

Matt Milenkovic's snap shot from inside the area flashed wide of the upright, while at the other end Ali Nazary's free kick clipped off the wall and away to safety.

Armadale started the second half with a flurry. Abdul Osman headed over the bar, before Chad Nilson curled wide of the upright after cutting in from the right.

But with their first attempt on target for the half, Perth broke through. Theodosiades ran onto Gustavo Catarcione's pass, drove into the area and dinked coolly over Sam Hutchings.

Armadale's stopper would then keep his side in the contest with a string of terrific saves.

Perth were awarded a second penalty of the match with Orr stepping up again to take, but the opportunity passed once more as Hutchings went the right way and palmed to safety.

Armadale's goalkeeper continued to star as the half progressed and he reacted brilliantly to tip over Jordan De Leo's deflected effort, before saving with his feet when substitute Niccolo Sabatini went through on goal.

He was helpless late on, however, when another replacement in Furfaro raced clear of the defence, rounded Hutchings and slotted away into an empty net.

Joshua Cortes rattled the post with a late header as Armadale had no luck in the final third as Perth celebrated back-to-back titles and went level with Bayswater in therms of championships in the NPL era.

Star player: Andreas Theodosiades (Perth SC)

Armadale SC 0
Perth SC 2 (Theodosiades 55min, Furfaro 89)

Saturday 17 August, 2019
Alfred Skeet Reserve
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Julian Serra
Assistant referees: Stewart Beattie, Aaron Softley

Armadale: GK: Sam HUTCHINGS, 2. Josh KUSER, 4. Nathan COSTELLO, 5. Ali NAZARY (7. Joshua CORTES 50), 6. Joel SANDERSON, 8. Michael LAWSON (10. Sam GARCES 64) 9. Uriel MACIAS, 11. Chad NILSON, 12. Dannie RICHMAN, 13. Blake ADAMS, 21. Abdul OSMAN (18. Ciaran BYRNE 80)
Substitutes not used: RGK: Blake HANSHELL, 16. Eraste VYAMUNGU
Yellow cards: Sanderson 62
Red cards: Nil

Perth SC: GK: Francis SOALE, 3. Andreas THEODOSIADES (14. Kristian SANTICH 73), 6. Harley ORR, 7. Aleks JOVIC (5. Niccolo SABATINI 65), 9. Gustavo CATARCIONE (17. Frank FURFARO 84), 11. Matt MILENKOVIC, 12. Jordan DE LEO, 13. Rocco PIZZATA, 19. Bojan RADINOVIC, 20. Paul ZIMARINO
Substitutes not used: RGK: Dejan ALEKSIC, 2. Alex SILLA
Yellow cards: Orr 76
Red cards: Nil