Azzurri win 6-5 classic as Knights go top despite draw

Game of the day saw Pieter Jacobsz score what proved to be the winner against his former side as Azzurri prevailed 6-5 over Armadale, who remain bottom without a point.

It took the Azzurri two minutes to strike with Ethan Banks converting Sam Pollard’s cross from close range, but John Baird’s side were soon level when Leigh Griffiths scored after Abraham Mathet’s blocked shot broke his way.

Banks had the hosts back in front with a carbon copy of his opener, only for Mathet to head in from six yards and then finish from Griffiths’ pass as Armadale hit the front late in the first half.

Julian Kelly curled home for 3-3 at the break before Sam Pollard’s outstanding lob from the edge of the box had Perth in front just 15 seconds after the restart.

Hamza Hina levelled up again for the visitors from a narrow angle to make it 4-4 before the hour mark. But two close-range finishes from Sam Riak and Jacobsz in the space of two minutes ultimately provided Kenny Lowe’s side with a decisive advantage.

A late Griffiths penalty gave the Azzurri a nervous final few minutes, but they saw it out and moved into mid-table with their first win of the campaign.

Elsewhere, Western Knights went top despite dropping their first points this term after a 1-1 draw with Fremantle City at Nash Field.

Both goals were scored in the opening nine minutes with Chad Nilson first to a rebound from Sam Reilly’s save to put Freo one up. Justin Tang equalised with an instinctive turn and strike for his third goal in as many games, as Knights look ahead to Bayswater on Friday night.

Olympic Kingsway are level on points with Knights at the top after a 2-1 win at Balcatta Etna.

Will Ferson bagged his first Green Machine goal when rifling high into the next from Mitch Oxborrow’s pass just past the half-hour mark.

Charlie Betts’ glancing header from a short corner levelled the scores on 74 minutes, but Balcatta were only on terms for three minutes as Danny De Silva won it for Olympic with a dinked finish over the goalkeeper.

Reigning champions Bayswater City dropped to third after suffering a first loss of the season, 2-1 at Perth RedStar.

A rare mistake at the back for the holders allowed Aaron Black to slot into a vacant net for the opener, and it got even better for RedStar just after half-time with a superbly taken cushioned volley from Liam Murray for 2-0.

Borbor Sam halved the deficit with his first goal since rejoining Bayswater but it wouldn’t be enough for Matt Sparrow who suffer their first road defeat in the league since 2024.

Perth Glory remains unbeaten and are just outside of the top four after a 4-2 victory over Stirling Macedonia. 

Kai Matthews cancelled out Louis Sollitt’s second goal in as many games inside the opening 17 minutes, but it was Glory who went into the break ahead when Oliver Evans curled low into the bottom corner.

Sebastian Despotovski and Evans both scored fine goals from long range in the second period to open up the game for Glory and all but confirm a first win of the season.

Pacifique Dufitimukiza’s first NPL goal proved only to be a consolation for Stirling, who sit fourth in the standings.

Finally, Dianella White Eagles won their first top-flight game in 28 years with Asher Nelson’s hat trick helping them win 4-2 at Sorrento FC.

The Gulls went in front when Connor Simpson headed in Kyunghwan Kim’s cross from the right. Dianella equalised when Albert Luwi teed up Asher Nelson who found the bottom corner.

Two quickfire goals for Ian Ferguson’s side put the visitors in control as Cory McNelis bravely looped a header up and over the goalkeeper, before Nelson arrived to tap in Lachlan Collins’ cross.

Dean Cummings’ brilliant volley gave the home side hope, but Nelson headed in to complete his hat-trick and give Dianella the points.