KEEPUP followed along alive as UEFA Europa Conference League champions West Ham defeated Isuzu UTE A-League outfit Perth Glory in a friendly at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.
In football, particularly during pre-season, there are more important things than the result. For Perth Glory that was exactly the case as a number of their youngsters impressed on the big stage.
Up against the might of UEFA Europa Conference League champions West Ham in their opening pre-season fixture at Optus Stadium on Saturday night, Perth were beaten 6-2.
But, forget the scoreline. This was about exciting teenagers Daniel Bennie, Andriano Lebib and Jaylan Pearman, and young forward Joshua Anasmo.
After making a name for himself with the Joeys at the AFC Under-17 Asian Cup in Thailand, 17-year-old Bennie scored his first goal for the Glory – teed up by Anasmo after coming off the bench – as he prepares for his debut season with the senior side.
“I think the kids were fantastic, really,” Network 10 analyst Andy Harper said, with Perth now turning their attention to Tuesday’s Australia Cup play-off against Macarthur FC.
“I don’t take anything into the score. (Lukasz) Fabianski makes a couple of really good saves.
“Bennie gets a goal on the back of goalscoring his way through the Asian Cup.
“Four 17-year-old’s from Perth’s academy played in the second half. We asked Richard Garcia before the game if he had any inside mail of any youngsters who might do the Stan Lazaridis-type thing. He didn’t commit to any names and said just wait for the second half because a few will catch your eye.
“They all did. Pearman was great, Lebib was great. Anasmo – doesn’t he have fire in his feet? Then Daniel Bennie.
“It was an extremely worthwhile outing, especially for the kids. I was thrilled for them.”
Speaking after the match, Glory boss Kenny Lowe spoke glowingly of the next generation of West Australian talent who are making waves of the national stage.
“They picked the last U17 (Australia) squad, and in the extended squad I think we had nine players,” he said.
“I think we’ve got maybe four in the U20’s. If you take the U23s with all of the WA boys: (at) Parma is young (Alessandro) Circati, we’ve got (Josh) Rawlins in Holland, (Matthew Dench) in the Championship, and then our boys here, we’ve got six WA boys in the U23s… and they’ve all come out of the Glory.
“We’ve seen (Chris Donnell) go to Fulham, and maybe a couple of other ones bubbling that could happen to other clubs in the Championship or Premier League. Things look healthy.”
There was also a special word for James Overy, the 15-year-old who played 45 minutes as right-back against the Hammers, despite having never played there before.
“The right-back was 15 – and he’s a winger,” Lowe explained. “He’s never played right back in his life, do you know what I mean? Poor lad. He won’t sleep tonight – and he was brilliant.”
West Ham stormed out of the blocks, taking the lead inside two minutes thanks to a Darryl Lachman own goal.
A Gianluca Scamacca penalty doubled the lead before a Luizao own goal gifted Perth a lifeline on the stroke of half-time.
Both sides made a host of changes at the break as the Hammers surged clear in the second half courtesy of a Jarrod Bowen brace, but it was Bennie’s goal that caught the eye.
With a growing reputation and comparisons to former Socceroo Josh Kennedy due to his build and long hair, the teenage midfielder converted brilliantly from the edge of the area with 18 minutes remaining.
“Anasmo is incredibly exciting. Wow. The feet and the speed. The finish from Daniel Bennie, excellent,” Harper said of the goal.
Bennie’s maiden goal for Perth came on the back of him signing a scholarship contract with the Glory heading into 2023-24.
Now, the Glory prospect is looking ahead to a season with the senior side after his exploits with the Joeys.
“It’s amazing. A dream really. To get a goal, even better,” he told Network 10 after scoring against West Ham.
“It’s a big step up but one I wanted to take.”
He added: “Hopefully get as many minutes as I can this season.”
KEEPUP followed the match live.
