NATIONAL Premier Leagues WA champion Perth SC booked its place in the final of the Top Four Cup with a 5-4 penalty shootout victory over Inglewood United at Dorrien Gardens on Saturday.
Perth skipper Clark Keltie had given his side the lead but the semi-final was sent to extra-time when Brian Woodall scored a late equaliser.
Inglewood’s hopes of gaining revenge on Perth, who had beaten it to the NPL WA title on the last day of the season, were snuffed out on penalties after neither side could add to the score in extra-time.
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READ NOWPerth coach Ramon Falzon was pleased his side had progressed after a difficult match.
“I thought our first half was really good but we should have scored more,” he said.
“Second half started well but Inglewood started putting pressure, which serves as a lesson. When we have the opportunities to finish off the game we must take the game to a 2-0 lead.
“In extra-time from our side it was just defend, keep the result, get to penalties.”
Inglewood will get a second chance to reach the final when it takes on ECU Joondalup in a preliminary final at Inglewood Stadium on Wednesday after the northern suburbs club won a thrilling minor semi-final against Floreat Athena 5-4.
Joondalup trailed 2-0 to goals from Jonathan Stynes and Cameron Yorke at half time but had pulled it back to 3-3 after 90 minutes before Daryl Nicol grabbed an extra-time winner.
Paddy Doyle, Rikki Smith, Shane Pickering and Michael McDougall were also been on target for ECU, while Lewis McMahon and Stynes’ second goal completed the scoring for Floreat.
The winner of Wednesday’s preliminary final takes on Perth SC in the Top Four Cup final on Saturday, September 10.