Saints take points off Stallions at the Palace

After week’s of late heartbreak, St George FC held it together to secure a hard fought 1-1 draw against 2024 National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW Champions Marconi Stallions at Marconi Stadium on Saturday. 

The Stallions held the lead for the majority of the game after Damian Tsekenis opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, but an 84th minute goal to St George’s Sunday Yona was enough to upset the hosts and leave the game to finish in a deadlock.

The Stallions looked for an early goal, with Jake Trew setting up Matej Busek for a solid opportunity in the 7th minute, but St George ‘keeper Mackenzie Syron calmly collected the shot.

A long ball from Syron set up Justin Poon for a promising opportunity in the 9th minute, however Marconi custodian James Hilton confidently denied.

A corner from Jaden Casella in the 17th minute gave the visitors a chance as Pat O’Shea nodded a ball towards the target, however Hilton was able to pull off an impressive save to deny the visitors the again .

Trew looked dangerous for Marconi in the 20th minute as he ran quickly down the right flank, only to be denied by St George’s defence.

The scoreboard lit up in the 32nd minute as the hosts scored the first of the night.

Marconi defender Lachlan Griffiths was on the attack, making a fast-paced run forward towards the goal before cutting across the goal face to Tsekenis, who headed the ball into the back of the net.

Bai Antoniou hunted for an opportunity for the visitors in the 44th minute down the left flank, sending a ball across to meet Poon, but they weren’t able to convert their chance.

Antoniou let off a shot towards the target in the 47th minute but his effort was denied by Hilton.

Griffiths was in the front third again in the 51st minute looking poised to extend the lead, but his shot skewed wide of the goal.

A cross from Trew met Kyle Cimenti at the back post in the 57th minute, forcing an impressive save from Syron.

Marconi looked to extend their lead in the 73rd minute as Busek sent a ball to Tsekenis in a central position, but the goal scorer wasn’t able to secure a brace as he delivered his shot directly to Syron in goal.

Thomas Brown sent a shot towards goal for the visitors in the 80th minute, but Hilton was well prepared to collect.

The visitors made their mark on the game in the 84th minute.

Antoniou sent a cross in to Harrison Farrow, whose effort rebounded to Yona to shoot into the netting.

Marconi came agonisingly close to taking back the lead in the 87th minute.

Brandon Vella sent a shot towards the target which was parried away by Syron, landing with substitute Milislav Popovic in front of goal, but Popovic’s close-range effort flew high over the goal.

Yona came asking for another in the 95th minute as he blazed forward, but substitute Cameron Windust managed a clinical clearance to keep the visitors at bay, leaving the match to finish up 1-1 at the final whistle.

Match Stats

Marconi Stallions FC 1 (Damian Tsekenis 32’)

St George FC 1 (Sunday Yona 84’)

Saturday March 1st, 2025

Marconi Stadium, Bossley Park

Referee: Michael Weiner

Assistant Referees: Hayden Kaye & Arinath Gobinath

Fourth Official: Roman Fisher

Marconi Stallions FC: 1. James Hilton, 2. Tyron Burnie, 4. Anton Mlinaric, 5. Lachlan Griffiths (3. Cameron Windust 83’), 8. James Bayliss, 9. Kyle Cimenti (6. Domenic Costanzo, 72’), 14. Jake Trew (16. Liam Youlley 83’), 17. Damian Tsekenis, 18. George Daniel, 23. Brandon Vella, 24. Matej Busek (11. Milislav Popovic 83’)

Substitutes Not Used: 12. Julian Monge, 20. Patrick Williams

Yellow Cards: Tsekenis

Red Cards: Nil

St George FC: 3. Troy Danaskos, 5. Nicholas Kalogerou, 6. Pat O’Shea (16. Kaidyn Wright 71’), 7. Aedan O’Shea (35. Harrison Farrow 60’), 8. Evangelo Souris (12. Thomas Dunn 82’), 10. Jayden Casella, 14. Justin Poon (13. Sunday Yona 60’), 15. Bai Antoniou, 17. Thomas Brown, 27. Jayden Seeto, 99. Mackenzie Syron

Substitutes Not Used: 1. Jonte Stark-Harris, 34. Kota Toyooka

Yellow Cards: Kalagerou 45+1’, Antoniou 69’, Casella 78’

Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings

3 – Anton Mlinaric (MS)

2 – Bai Antoniou (SG)

1 – James Hilton (MS)

-By Madeline Riley