APIA rescue point in dramatic thriller against St George FC
St George FC almost had the upset of the round but had to settle for a point as they drew 2-2 against 2023 Premiers APIA Leichhardt FC at the Ilinden Sports Centre on Saturday.
It was APIA Leichhardt who had the opening chance of the match, with the Inner West club once again making a fast start.
After Ben Gibson intercepted a pass from St George’s goalkeeper inside the minute mark, he looked to strip the stranded Daniel Axford, but saw his effort loop just over the bar in what should have been an early opener for the away side.
Despite conceding a golden early chance, St George were impressing against APIA, looking to play quickly and play out against their opponents press, and not sit off when the away side looked to start attacks from their backline.
Their intensity saw them create two chances early on – one off some good interplay around the box to go in behind and the other off pinching the ball as APIA tried to play out, but neither was troubling to Anthony Bouzanis in goal.
St George created another shot with an impressive, sustained build-up, but the eventual effort from Justin Poon from just outside the box dragged wide of the post.
The home side received reward for extremely strong start in the 15th minute, taking the lead against the reigning Champions with what was once more a beautifully created move.
A clever pass from Conor Quilligan after receiving the ball in a central pocket of space allowed Nikola Skataric to run at Josh Symons on the right after drifting to the flank.
Holding the ball up well, he then found Nicholas Kalogerou, who had made an untracked run from right-back inside and into the box, and after taking a touch, slotted home a steady, clinical finish past Bouzanis to open the scoring.
Before the game, a St George opener would have been considered a significant shock, but the home side looked by far the more likely in a dominant opening against the reigning Champions.
St George had a chance to double their lead in the 22nd minute, with a good cross from Troy Danaskos finding the head of Skataric, who just couldn’t gain sufficient contact with his effort.
They had another chance once a minute later, after once more pinching the ball once again after a strong counterpress.
Another great ball from Danaskos found Skataric in behind, but the forward couldn’t convert a fantastic chance in a one on one against Bouzanis, with the goalkeeper standing strong to block St George from doubling their lead.
APIA, determined to respond, threatened through a Jack Stewart curling effort, and were beginning to work their way into proceedings.
However, in the 35th minute, St George successfully pressed APIA once more, with Poon latching onto a weak backpass from Themba Muata-Marlow.
The winger just had to take the ball around a deserted Bouzanis and convert into an empty net, but the goalkeeper read the touch superbly and blocked Poon’s route to goal.
However, the home side did double their lead in the 38th minute, with their press prevailing once more against APIA’s build-up in an astonishing yet deserved first-half scoreline.
A crunching tackle from Patrick O’Shea just inside the final third turned into a pin-point pass, finding the onrushing Skataric in behind.
This time, the striker made no mistake in finding the back of the net, placing the ball across Bouzanis and into the bottom-left corner.
With their intense pressing, purposeful possession and sharp attacking combinations and movement, St George were beating APIA at their own game.
Early into the second half, St George looked to have made it three, with a beautiful turn and pass from Quilligan finding Peter Grozos in behind, who rounded Bouzanis and finished, but the winger was caught offside and the goal was disallowed.
To make things worse for APIA, star player Jack Stewart was sent off in the 54th minute for an angry reaction after being fouled by Quilliganx.
The away side remained impressively strong following the red card and clawed a goal back in the 63rd minute thanks to a stunning piece of play from Jordan Segreto.
Receiving the ball on the run on the right, the purposeful forward cleverly cut inside to gain space.
In a more inside position, he curled an inch-perfect ball in behind to Ben Gibson, who accelerated well to latch onto the ball, taking a positive touch past Daniel Axford and converting into an open net.
The reigning champions had a good chance to draw level, with a clever pass from Gibson playing in Jack Armson, but an exceptional block from Danaskos kept his side in front.
APIA, who were excelling following the send off, went close once more three minutes later, with an incisive, intuitive pass from Segreto on the edge of the box finding Seiya Kambayashi, but the fullbacks first touch was overhit in the box and Axford gladly collected the ball.
Contrary to the first half, it was APIA who had St George dominated, pinning their opponents in their defensive half despite being a man down.
However, St George were defending well, and remained threatening with their quick, fluid attacks.
The home side went awfully close to securing the three points with a fantastic low ball from Danaskos after a good pass from Poon receiving a strong connection from Aedan O’Shea, forcing Bouzanis to make a smart stop.
St George were managing the game well into added time, employing their full range of dark arts to slow down any APIA momentum.
But in a stunning moment in additional time, APIA broke the home crowd’s hearts, with a thunderbolt from Nick Sullivan dramatically drawing the game level.
After sustaining pressure inside St George’s box, the ball dropped on the edge to Sullivan.
With just one touch, the midfielder lashed through the ball and casually walked away as his ferocious effort found the top-right corner.
It proved to be the last meaningful action of the match, and the final whistle sounded moments later to bring a thoroughly entertaining affair to an end.
APIA coach Franco Parisi complimented his side’s character in coming back from ten men to take a point.
“In the end we grabbed a point so that’s important in the scheme of the season,” he said.
“We showed good character to come back despite being down a man, so we were really positive about that.
“We conceded a couple of goals in the first half that isn’t what we’re used to, isn’t what we’re about and isn’t what we’re really comfortable with, but credit to St George.”
Meanwhile, St George coach Jané Talcevski was disappointed with his teams second half showing after a mightily impressive first 45 minutes.
“I think in the first half we were exceptional, to come out and impressed in terms of our style and our identity was fantastic to see.
“I think in the second half we lost our identity and we’ve got to be disappointed.
“Credit to APIA, with a man down they kept pushing and got the reward but we should’ve been much better in the second half and controlled the game, particularly with APIA a man down.”
Match Stats
St George FC 2 (Kalogerou 15’, Skataric 38’)
APIA Leichhardt FC 2 (Gibson 63’, Sullivan 90+5’)
Saturday 23 March, 2024
Rockdale Illinden Sports Centre
Referee: Ivica Covic
Assistant Referees: Matthew Harris and Lindsay Edmonds
Fourth Official: Liam Smith
St George FC: 3. Troy Danaskos (C), 5. Nicholas Kalogerou, 6. Patrick O’Shea, 8. Conor Quilligan (7. Jesse Spang 74’), 9. Peter Grozos, 10. Harry Jones, 18. Mark Rodic, 19. Nikola Skataric (22. Aedan O’Shea 65’), 20. Daniel Axford, 27. Jayden Seeto, 30. Justin Poon (11. Anthony Morabito 86’)
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Andrew Di Blasio, 12. Dylan-Goran Bozicevic, 15. Mitchell Heapy
Yellow Cards: Quilligan 54’, P. O’Shea 60’, A. O’Shea 90’
Red Cards: None
APIA Leichhardt FC: 1. Anthony Bouzanis, 2. Seiya Kambayashi, 4. Josh Symons, 5. Jordan Segreto (8. Nick Sullivan 82’), 7. Jack Stewart, 9. Ben Gibson (19. Luigi Ditroia 74’), 14. Jack Armson (11. Rory Jordan 74’), 15. Themba Muata-Marlow, 18. Adrian Ucchino (C) (26. Sean Symons 45’), 22. Edward Caspers, 41. Nicholas Azzone (23. Dakota Askew 82’)
Substitutes Not Used: 27. Evan Davis
Yellow Cards: Askew 90’
Red Cards: Stewart 54’
Player Ratings:
3 – Troy Danaskos (SG)
2 – Conor Quilligan (SG)
1 – Jordan Segreto (APIA)
By Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)
