Four-goal Keogh leads Glory past Wanderers

Andy Keogh scored four goals on his 35th birthday to lead Perth Glory to a 5-1 A-League thrashing of Western Sydney Wanderers.

Keogh, who remarkably hadn’t scored in his previous 18 appearances this season, snared two goals in the first half and another two after the break to keep Perth’s march towards a once-unlikely finals berth rolling.

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The Glory’s third win on the bounce draws them within three points of the top six, while the Wanderers now sit outside the finals places on goal difference.

Perth left the visitors reeling after just five minutes at HBF Park.

Diego Castro released Kosuke Ota down the left hand side and the full-back ripped a tremendous low cross into the path of Keogh to head home.

His second goal was one of the best of the season.

Keogh had headed the ball down to Bruno Fornaroli, who flicked it back.

He then smacked a long-range lob off the half-volley, over Wanderers goalkeeper Daniel Margush, who was caught off his line.

Andy Keogh’s four goals against Western Wanderers were his first since returning for a second spell at Perth Glory. James Worsfold/Getty Images

Four minutes into the second half, Western Sydney found a foothold in the game through Bruce Kamau.

The attacker received the ball in space and with no Glory defenders moving to press him, charged forward and fired a cracking strike past a diving Liam Reddy.

But 15 minutes later, Perth regained their two-goal advantage from the penalty spot.

Wanderers defender Patrick Ziegler was sliding in to block Joel Chianese’s cross but the ball flicked up and caught his arm, with referee Daniel Elder pointing to the spot.

Margush dived the right way but Keogh’s drilled penalty proved unstoppable. rounding out his hat trick.

In the 72nd minute, Chris Ikonomidis’ cross took a big deflection and drifted across goal but a leaping Keogh was on hand to tap home his fourth.

But Perth weren’t done and deep into injury time, Osama Malik slipped a brilliant through-ball for Chianese, who finished clinically to complete the rout.