Milenkovic double gives Perth SC the win

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Report by Alex Vlahos

 

It was a bitterly cold Saturday night at Wildlife Safari Stadium but it was a red-hot second half from visitors Perth SC which earned them a crucial three points in their Round 19 NPL WA match against Forrestfield United.

 

With the scores level at half-time, a brace from Matthew Milenkovic was enough to give Perth a 3-1 victory over an injury-stricken Forrestfield.

 

Riding a five-match unbeaten run, the Azzurri were favourites to beat an out-of-form Forrie and they took the lead through Gustavo Catarcione after just 11 minutes.

 

The goal came on the back of splendid midfield play from Kristian Santich, who won the ball off United’s Mitchell Crocker before sending a scything pass for Catarcione to collect, round the keeper and deposit into an empty net.

Forrestfield responded immediately, however, with striker Hasani Sinclair delightfully heading home a pinpoint Jordan Hart cross on 14 minutes, sparking a period of dominance for the hosts.

Forrie controlled the remainder of the first-half, playing with excellent intensity and endeavour, but lacking that knockout punch in the final third.

Perth coach Ramon Falzon made strategical changes at the break and it paid off handsomely with Milenkovic heading home a Richard Howell cross just five minutes into the second half.

 

The Azzurri kept piling on the pressure and Howell and Paul Zimarino both had efforts kept out by Forrestfield goalkeeper Luke Martino in quick succession as Perth used both wings to good effect.

Forrestfield’s best chance of the second half came on 70 minutes, when Crocker’s powerful long-range strike was spectacularly saved by Perth stopper Francis Soale.

The game was put to bed on 78 minutes with Milenkovic netting from close range after Frank Furfaro’s initial effort was well saved by Martino.

Falzon was impressed with the way his troops responded after half-time.

 

“We needed to make some small technical changes as we were going to direct, we got a goal out of it early but after a while it became too predictable,” Falzon said.

 

“We got the midfield more involved in the second half and the boys did a very good job.”

 

Falzon remarked how vital the win was for his side, before light-heartedly sending a message to next-weekend’s opponent Cockburn City.

 

“It was an important win, we have now closed the gap on fourth-placed Bayswater to just three points,” he said.

 

“We are four points behind Cockburn, but we will win next week and make the gap just one point.”

Despite the result Forrestfield coach Rod Banjac was buoyed by his side’s performance after last Saturday’s disappointing defeat at Balcatta.

“I thought we played really well tonight, we had a tough opposition and the boys rose to the occasion,” Banjac said.

“In the first half I thought we dominated, we created chances and structured our build-ups sensibly, but unfortunately didn’t capitalise and lacked that cutting edge.

“Obviously the boys ran out of a bit of steam at the end and we are on the losing end again, which is not a pleasant feeling.”

Perth SC now sit in fifth position but were just five points off top spot before leaders Perth Glory's Sunday game against Floreat.

The Azzurri's next fortnight features two mouth-watering encounters, as they head back to Dorrien Gardens to take on top-four sides Cockburn City and Bayswater City.

 

Forrestfield sit second from bottom, however they are equal on points with Subiaco, Sorrento and Stirling Lions.

They host cellar-dwellers Joondalup United in a must-win match next Saturday night, before tricky assignments against Cockburn City and Inglewood United.

 

Forrestfield United 1 (Sinclair 14min)
Perth SC 3 (Catarcione 11, Milenkovic 50, 78)

Saturday, June 23
Kick-off: 7pm
Venue: Wildlife Safari Stadium
Referee: Julian Serra
Assistant referees: Joseph Belfiore, Adrien Liechti

 

Forrestfield United: 9. Hasani SINCLAIR, 4 Jamie DUNCAN, 10. Jordan HART (12. Callum DOBBS 68), 14. Leslie MARI, 11. Liam MERRIGAN, 1. Luke Martino (GK), 8. Mitchell CROCKER, 23. Rhys LOXLEY (7. Benjamin ROGERS 88), 5. Scott BARKER, 3. Wilbert Tshabangu, 2. Josh KOTIO (17. Albert LUW 76)
Substitutes not used: Benjamin PARRY
Yellow cards: Kotio 45m
Red cards: Nil

 

Perth SC: 1. Francis SOALE (GK), 9. Gustavo CATARCIONE (17. Frank Furfaro 76), 6. Harley ORR, 16. Kieran COLWELL, 11. Mathew MILENKOVIC, 5. Niccolo SABATINI, 20. Paul ZIMARINO (10. Nicholas AMBROGIO 87), 18. Richard KNOWLES, 13. Rocco PIZZATA, 8. Tom KING (2. Alex SILLA 43)
Substitutes not used: 22. Adam ZIMARINO, 23. Malek KUC
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil

Last Modified on 01/07/2018 14:25

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