By Lance Jenkinson
Cohesion and confidence is building for Western United.
The A-League’s newest club has hardly put a foot wrong in its first two preseason games.
Nine goals in 180 minutes – an average of one every 20 minutes – is United’s return from two preseason friendly outings.
Two clean sheets achieved would be just as pleasing for United coach Mark Rudan.
It was not all perfection for Western United in Thursday night’s 5-0 win over Preston Lions at City Vista Recreation Reserve.
Star import Alessandro Diamanti missed over the bar from the penalty spot.
That first half blemish saw the teams go in dead-locked at half time.
Western United produced a five-star performance in the second half.
United scored all of its five goals in a scintillating second 45 minutes.
In almost a carbon copy from last week, Valentino Yuel got on the end of a Diamanti cross to score the game’s opening goal, though this one was from open play.
Youngster Josh Cavallo doubled United’s lead when he comfortably tucked home a goal from the edge of the penalty box.
Apostolos Stamatelopoulos had a five minute purple patch where he scored two goals to take it out to a four-goal lead.
Stamatelopoulos tapped in at the far post from a Cavallo free kick and then made an aggressive run straight up the middle to tap in a Dylan Pierias cross.
Pierias made it five when he dived in to nod home a Cavallo delivery from the left.
Two-from-two to start preseason, Western United will have a short turnaround for their clash with North Geelong Warriors at City Vista Recreation Reserve on Tuesday night at 7pm.
