Jamie Maclaren scored a hat-trick as a star-studded Perth Glory upset Melbourne Victory 5-2 in the Foxtel National Youth League match at Intiga Stadium on Saturday.
Jamie Maclaren scored a hat-trick as a star-studded Perth Glory upset Melbourne Victory 5-2 in the Foxtel National Youth League match at Intiga Stadium on Saturday.
Glory trailed Victory 1-0 at half-time, but found the back of the net five times in the second half to record just their third win of the season.
It also snapped a seven-game losing streak for the Perth side that had conceded a whopping 38 goals during that tough stretch.
Glory fielded a starting line-up featuring nine players with first team experience, plus regular reserve goalkeeper Jack Duncan.
Victory almost went ahead in the fourth minute when a deflection had to be cleared off the line by Glory full back Matthew Davies.
Maclaren had a chance for Glory less than minute later after intercepting a pass in his team-s attacking half, but his shot was blocked by Victory custodian Keegan Coulter.
Two more chances went begging for the young striker in the minutes that followed as Glory took control of the match.
But Victory scored against the run of play when an unmarked Christopher Cristaldo headed the ball into the back of the net from a corner in the 31st minute.
Connor Pain almost extended Victory-s lead before the half-time break with a powerful strike that Duncan deflected into the post and out for a corner.
However, Glory scored three goals in 15 minutes in the second half to turn the game on its head.
Edwards equalised for Glory in the 59th minute with a sizzling strike from well outside the penalty box.
Glory then hit the lead six minutes later when Maclaren flicked an attempted shot from captain Brandon O-Neill past a stunned Victory defence.
Borbor Sam replaced experienced Brazilian winger Sidnei Sciola at half-time and added his name to the scoresheet in the 75th minute when his ambitious attempt from deep on the left side of the box deflected off a Victory defender and into the back of the net.
James Jeggo begged one back for the visitors in the 77th minute, but Maclaren ensured Glory would take maximum points from the match with an impressive run and even classier finish.
Maclaren completed his hat-trick when he headed home a Daniel De Silva cross deep in injury time.
Perth Glory 5 (R Edwards 59m, Maclaren 65m, 80m, 90m+3, Sam 75m)
Melbourne Victory 2 (Cristaldo 31m, J Jeggo 77m)
Played at Intiga Stadium
Perth Glory: 1. Jack Duncan (GK), 2. Matthew Davies, 3. Jacob Collard (15. Alexander Castiello 60m), 4. Brandon O-Neill, 5. Riley Woodcock (17. Joshua Tucker 46m), 6. Cameron Edwards, 7. Jamie Maclaren, 8. Ryan Edwards, 9. Ndumba Makeche, 10. Daniel De Silva, 14. Sidnei Sciola (11. Borbor Sam 46m).
Unused substitute:
12. Luke Radonich (GK)
Yellow cards:
Nil
Melbourne Victory: 1. Keegan Coulter (GK), 3. Milos Ridesic, 4. James Karvelis (12. Anthony Duzel 60m), 5. Dylan Murnane, 6. Jordan Brown (13. Damien Miskulin 60m), 7. Christopher Cristaldo, 8. Luc Jeggo (14. Anthony Proia 60m), 9. Jesse Makarounas, 10. James Jeggo, 11. Connor Pain, 15. Jason Geria.
Unused substitute:
20. Gian Tapia (GK)
Yellow cards:
Dylan Murnane 26m
Christopher Cristaldo 36m
James Jeggo 43m