Stallions rocked by classy St George City
St George City edged past Marconi Stallions 2-1 at Penshurst Park on Saturday night to the visitors three-match unbeaten streak in round 9 of the National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW competition.
The hosts, fresh from a weekend off, could have taken the lead early through a likely source in Jason Romero via the spot in the 20th minute but his effort was expertly saved by James Hilton.
There was then a first-half goal-glut as St George went in front after 33 minutes through Louis Khoury.
Marko Jesic then equalised for the visitors four minutes later before Romero found the net three minutes after that.
St George held in the second period to secure an impressive win against Marconi.
The hosts proved a threat from crosses early on.
In the seventh minute, Cameron Fong’s right-sided cross found a leaping Dominic Cox, but the midfielder headed over the bar.
The side whipped in another delivery two minutes later when Fumoto Kamada’s ball met Nathan Roberts who could only find Marconi goalkeeper James Hilton with his header.
St George carried on their positive start and were presented with a chance to take the lead 20 minutes in from the penalty spot after Nathan Roberts was fouled.
Captain Romero took responsibility and fired a powerful effort towards the bottom left corner, but Hilton was equal to it and eventually smothered the ball.
Marconi almost snatched the lead against the run of play six minutes later.
Domenic Costanzo curled a cross from the left towards the back post where Jesic was waiting; the forward volleying into the goal but being flagged offside.
St George re-established momentum and opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark.
Hilton parried a right-sided ball into the path of Khoury on the penalty spot, who turned well and smashed it into the net.
City’s lead did not last long with the Stallions equalising in the 37th minute.
Costanzo drove inside from the left and got a shot off from the edge of the box that City goalkeeper Jack Kenny could not hold onto.
Jesic reacted fasted and squeezed the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle close in.
The game continued to entertain as St George went in front again three minutes later.
Kamada rolled a cross from the left of the box, after burning Stallions defender Cameron Windust, across the face of goal where Romero slid in to convert into an empty net.
The home side took the advantage into halftime after a thrilling final 15 minutes of the first period.
St George went close nine minutes after the break when Dominic Cox snatched the ball in the right channel and entered the box.
Cox found Roberts centrally with his cutback as the latter’s shot deflected past the left post.
Chances in the match then dried up as St George looked to hold onto their advantage against Marconi.
City conjured up another opportunity in the 76th minute when Kamada set off on a run down the left.
The winger played it to the left edge of the box for substitute Maki Petratos, whose well-hit effort bounced narrowly past the left post.
Marconi started to pump the ball into the box more frequently as the match entered the final 10 minutes.
St George repelled several ariel attacks to claim a vital three points at home.
St George City Coach Mirko Jurilj said he was delighted with his team’s performance in the first half and hopes it is the start of the side’s building some consistency.
“Playing these guys [Marconi] is not easy – that’s for sure,” Jurilj said.
“I thought we were outstanding first half. The game should have really been put to bed.
“They got back into it but we scored another fantastic goal.
“Our movement, our one-touch play, was exactly what we’ve been searching for.
“Second half, it was a little bit clunky, but we saw it out.”
Meanwhile Marconi Stallions defender George Daniel said the team just were not at it today.
“We just weren’t on. Our intensity was not there. Their intensity was and that’s what got the result,” he said.
“That’s just NPL for you.
“Whoever has more intensity wins the game. That’s all.”
Match Stats
St George City 2 (Louis Khoury 33’, Jason Romero 40’)
Marconi Stallions FC 1 (Marko Jesic 37’)
Saturday 6 April 2024
Penshurst Park, Penshurst
Referee: Stephen Lucas
Assistant Referees: Amirhossein Hosnani and Hayden Langholtz
Fourth Official: Liam Smith
St George City: 1. Jack Kenny, 2. Cameron Fong, 3. Joshua Hong, 4. Solomon-Johnn Monahan-Vaiika, 5. Fumoto Kamada, 7. Nathan Roberts (11. Kosta Petratos 68’), 8. Dominic Cox, 10. Jason Romero (9. Maki Petratos 73’), 25. Brodie Clarkson, 33. Louis Khoury (14. Paolo Mitry 73’), 88. Mohammed Khamis
Substitutes Not Used: 13. Joseph Knowles, 19. Jesse Photi, 38. Kai Kamikura
Yellow Cards: Brodie Clarkson 52’, Mohammed Khamis 63’
Red Cards: Nil
Marconi Stallions FC: 1. James Hilton, 2. Nathan Millgate, 3. Cameron Windust (17. Milislav Popovic 77’), 4. Anton Mlinaric, 6. Domenic Costanzo (24. Mackenzie Syron, Jonathan Soares 88’), 7. Franco Maya (11. Hiroaki Aoyama 70’), 8. Daniel Bouman (21. Jakov Malbasa 88’), 9. James Temelkovski, 10. Marko Jesic, 18. George Daniel, 23. Brandon Vella
Substitutes Not Used: 14. Dylan Susovic
Yellow Cards: Franco Maya 26’, Marko Jesic 90+3’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Cameron Fong (STC)
2 – Jason Romero (STC)
1 – Marko Jesic (MS)
Report by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_
