St George City no match for next level APIA
APIA Leichhardt have secured an importance three points with a scintillating 4-1 victory against St George City FA at Lambert Park.
It was APIA Leichhardt who made the stronger start, scoring just four minutes into the crucial mid-week fixture.
After a period of sustained possession, Ben Gibson latched onto a long ball in behind, stealing away from Matthew Keremelevski.
Gibson made no mistake in his one on one, dribbling calmly around Jack Kenny before passing the ball into an empty net.
It was the perfect start for the home side, who had another chance three minutes later, with a Michael Kouta cross evading both Ben Gibson and Jordan Segreto, as the ball bounced precariously through St George’s box and out for a goal kick.
The home side threatened again with a left-footed thunderbolt from Jack Armson from just outside the box forcing a strong save from Kenny, before Gibson was released in behind once more after a deft pass from Jordan Segreto, but couldn’t convert this time as Kenny made another necessary save.
APIA’s attacking flurry continued as Segreto was presented with a perfect chance to double his sides lead after another perfectly-executed deep cross from Kouta, with the forward able to touch the ball down and face Kenny from just outside the six-yard box, but Segreto couldn’t add direction to his powerful strike, and Kenny made yet another save to keep APIA’s lead to the solitary goal.
However, APIA found their deserved second goal in the 19th minute with another flowing attacking move.
The home side beat St George’s press, leaving Seiya Kambayashi with space to drive.
He made a calculated dribble forwards, drawing in a St George player to open up a gap for Armson to receive between the lines.
The midfielder effortlessly curled a precise first-time pass in behind the St George backline which was received by Sean Symons, and the veteran found himself in his element, cooly converting past Kenny to double APIA’s lead.
However, the reigning Premiers weren’t done, as a mistake in build-up from St George saw a backpass to Kenny capitalised on by Gibson.
The striker again took the ball around the shot-stopper, and converted to extend APIA’s lead to three.
The home side weren’t just showing the quality, but also the intensity of Champions, continuing to make the most of St George’s sluggish start and set their own level at Lambert Park.
Symons almost added a fourth after APIA again won the ball high up the field, but the winger couldn’t find the top-near corner from an acute angle after being slipped in by Segreto.
However, in the meantime, St George were plotting a comeback of their own, scoring in the 33rd minute to claw a goal back.
An assertive, determined run from Presley Ortiz allowed him to then slip in Kosta Petratos, who – after letting the ball run across his body – produced a clinical finish from inside the box, giving the away side a lifeline back into this mid-week match.
After a quieter period of the match saw a mistake in APIA’s build-up almost pounced upon by St George, with a square ball from Ortiz across the box narrowly avoiding Jason Romero at the far post.
In the second half, St George went close to finding another goal, as a beautiful run and pass from Romero found the feet of Petratos in behind.
The forward converged in on goal, but couldn’t withstand heavy pressure from Kouta, who did enough to put Petratos off in a vital defensive effort.
Moments later, APIA – through winning the ball high once more – added a fourth with a sensational goal from Segreto.
The forward received the ball courtesy of a threaded pass from Gibson.
Segreto chopped inside, evading the pressure of Fumoto Kamada, and instantaneously fired a left-footed shot into the near-post bottom corner.
It went from bad to worse for St George in the 55th minute, as Kamada was shown a red card after lashing out against Segreto, who had prevented the left-back from advancing forwards by pulling his shirt.
The away side threatened in the 70th minute with a strong curling effort from Ortiz forcing a good save from Alexander Parkes, but chances were few and far between, with APIA just seeing the game out.
APIA – as expected – controlled the remainder of the game and produced the perfect retaliation to their defeat to Manly United, gaining an important three points to remain in touch with Rockdale Illinden at the top of the ladder.
Match Stats
APIA Leichhardt FC 4 (Gibson 4’, 26’, Symons 19’, Segreto 53’)
St George City FA 1 (Petratos 33’)
Wednesday 12 June, 2024
Lambert Park
Referee: Michael Weiner
Assistant Referees: Alessandro Llana and Thomas Aalders
Fourth Official: Ivica Covic
APIA Leichhardt FC: 20. Alexander Parkes, 2. Seiya Kambayashi, 9. Ben Gibson, 14. Jack Armson, 15. Themba Muata-Marlow (41. Nicholas Azzone 72’), 16. Sean Symons (30. Alex Denmead 66’), 17. Jordan Segreto (19. Luigi Ditroia 66’), 18. Adrian Ucchino (C) (8. Nick Sullivan 72’), 21. Michael Kouta, 22. Edward Caspers, 23. Dakota Askew
Substitutes Not Used: 11. Rory Jordan, 27. Evan Davis
Yellow Cards: Segreto 55’, Armson 62’
Red Cards:
St George City FA: 1. Jack Kenny, 2. Cameron Fong, 3. Joshua Hong (14. Paolo Mitry 45’), 4. Solomon-Johnn Monahan-Vaiika (88. Mohammed Khamis 78’), 5. Fumoto Kamada, 6. Tarik Ercan (C), 8. Dominic Cox (23. Andrew Vlahadamis 81’), 10. Jason Romero (19. Jesse Photi 78’), 11. Kosta Petratos, 30. Presley Ortiz (29. William Kounnas 81’), 99. Matthew Keremelevski
Substitutes Not Used: 21. Ryan Reid
Yellow Cards: Ercan 5’
Red Cards: Kamada 55’
Player ratings:
3 – Ben Gibson (APIA)
2 – Michael Kouta (APIA)
1 – Edward Caspers (APIA)
By Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)
