Zico’s ‘goal of the season’ effort came just five minutes into the match at Litis Stadium, smashing home a left-footed volley after connecting to a long cross-field pass from Robbie Sciascia.
The wonder goal sparked Zico’s teammates into action, with Perth adding another two goals inside the first half-hour to take the game away from Floreat, and claim the club’s first victory for the season.
Perth captain Craig Simpson headed home in the 20th minute after a corner from Mark Pritchard, and striker Ash Rosindale scored nine minutes later after latching on to a Pritchard free-kick.
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READ NOWFloreat pressured early in the second half, with signs of a comeback in the 56th minute when Jack Allen waltzed through the Perth defence and fired past keeper Alex Dunn to pull one back for Athena.
However, any chance of a revival was snubbed out by Mark Doninger nine minutes later, when he restored Perth’s three-goal advantage with his first for the club.
Doninger’s strike was set up nicely by Sciascia after a great run on the left flank by substitute Aden Da Luz.
The game then opened up and Perth keeper Dunn produced an outstanding save from David Heagney’s close-range strike.
Da Luz then went close to scoring a fifth for Perth in the final minutes, but his curling shot hit the top of the left goal post.
Perth’s U18s defeated Floreat 6-2 and the U20s enjoyed a 2-1 victory.
– Perth travel to Percy Doyle Reserve next Saturday to take on Sorrento. The first team kicks off at 3pm.