After a last-gasp victory over Brisbane Roar last week, Melbourne Heart FC’s NYL side couldn’t replicate that result against Perth Glory on Saturday.
Melbourne Heart FC went down 4-1 to Perth Glory in the National Youth League on Saturday afternoon John Cain Memorial Reserve.
While Heart conjured a dramatic late winner against Roar last week, the Red and White were stung by a late Glory surge with two of their three second-half goals conceded during stoppage time.
Glory striker Ndumba Makeche scored a brace for his side, to go with goals from Harry O’Brien and former Heart player Adrian Zahra, while Josh Groenewald posted the only goal for the Melbourne team.
On a beautifully sunny afternoon, Heart created their first good chance 14 minutes in when Stipo Andrijasevic recovered a Perth turnover 20 yards out, but his strike was comfortably saved by Glory’s Jordan Franken.
It was Makeche, though, who started the scoring, netting the opener for Perth with a tap-in finish at the 17th minute when Riley Woodcock’s corner fell to ground in the penalty box.
The Heart found their equaliser from a corner in the 33rd minute when Nicholas Epifano sent a ball to the far post which was headed home by captain Groenewald.
Andrijasevic delivered a running-through ball to Epifano on the right-side but his shot under pressure was easily dealt with in the 38th minute as scores stood tied at one apiece after an even opening 45.
Glory Substitute Harry Obrien then missed a header when unmarked in the box in the 73rd minute but broke lose again a minute later as he converted with a powerful finish to the top-right corner to reclaim Perth’s lead.
With the Glory gathering momentum Heart hit back on the counter attack and Petreski had a late chance with four minutes remaining but deflected his free kick attempt off the wall.
In the 90th minute Adrian Zahra doubled Perth’s advantage after Makeche forced a spectacular save from Redmayne, which gifted the winger his shot at the back post as the rebound fell kindly for the former Heart man.
Makeche then won a penalty in the 92nd minute which he powered home for his second goal to secure the victory for Perth and give them their second win for the season to go with two defeats.
Melbourne Heart, meanwhile, also have two wins and two losses defeating Brisbane Roar 2-1 last weekend.
Melbourne Heart 1 (Joshua Groenewald 33)
Perth Glory 4 (Ndumba Makeche 17, 90, Harry Obrien 74, Adrian Zahra 90)
Melbourne Heart: 1. Alastair Bray 4. Andrew Mullet, 5. Zac Walker, 6. Joshua Groenewald (c), 7. Ersin Kaya, 8. Paulo Retre, 9. Evangelos Batsis (3. Anthony Cartanos 60), 10. Stefan Mauk, 11. Golgol Mebrahtu (12. Philip Petreski 60), 14. Stipo Andrijasevic, 15. Nicholas Epifano, (2. Jeremy Walker 60), 16.Andrew Redmayne (gk)
Perth Glory 1. Devon Spence (GK), 2. Mathew Davies, 4. Jacob Collard (15. Lawrence Sharuma 60) 5. Riley Woodcock, 6. Brandon O’Neil, 7. Adrian Zahra, 8. Blamo Quaqua (12. Moses Kalau 60), 9. Ndumba Makeche 10. Jesse Makarounas 11. Ryo Nagai (13. Harry O’Brien 60), 16. Jordan Franken (gk) 17. Ryan Lowry
