Blacktown City defeat APIA in thriller
A late Danny Choi stunner secured all three points for Blacktown City for their first win 2025 at Landen Stadium this season after they took down APIA Leichhardt FC 4-3 on Sunday.
APIA started off strong with their attackers holding possession early on, but it was Blacktown who produced the first chance of the game. Jakob Cresnar had a nice break from his defenders on the side line and sent off a cross but overshot the run of Jak O’Brien.
Soon after APIA had their own opportunity with a free kick given outside the penalty area but Segreto couldn’t get the right angle, hitting his strike into the solid Blacktown wall.
Jak O’Brien had a perfect opportunity for a tap in off a beautiful Mitch Mallia cross but it went the wrong side of the bar for a goal kick. Jordan Segreto’s solid chance in the 16th minute was quickly forgotten as the response from Blacktown saw a great team goal, with Jak O’Brien offloading to Mallia, who’s cross to Moore netted the first goal of the match.
Although Blacktown held the momentum, APIA was definitely not letting the goal get to them. They got themselves on the scoreboard in the 32nd minute as a scrappy build-up in the box resulted in the ball falling perfectly for Cameron Fong, who blasted it into the back of the net to level the scores.
However they weren’t level for long as Blacktown put themselves back ahead just before the break. A hard challenge on O’Brien from Themba Muata-Marlow set up a free kick just right of the box, which Mallia expertly sent into the top corner to take a 2-1 lead into half time.
Blacktown wasted no time as they came back from the sheds as O’Brien was gifted with a great pass right in front of goal to easily slip into goal for a 3-1 advantage just seconds after the restart. Despite the 3-1 disadvantage, APIA never looked out of the contest. The pressure on the Blacktown defence paid off in the 53rd minute as Presley Ortiz found an opening and struck it past the keeper to reduce the deficit to one.
APIA maintained their momentum and a near miss from Segreto eventually led to a stunning, score-levelling strike from Ortiz for his second of the game and fifth of the season.
With 10 minutes to go in regulation and even pressure from both teams, it looked likely to end in a draw. However a triple substitution from City coach Mark Crittenden placed a fresh Danny Choi on the pitch, who capitalised on a great cross from Nick O’Brien to send the ball into the back of the net and once again hand Blacktown the lead with minutes remaining.
Crittenden said the result shouldn’t have been that close.
“We were really poor defensively,” Crittenden said.
“To concede three times at home is really disappointing, and the way we conceded defensively is just not good enough for us.
“The result is good, but still plenty of work to do.”
Match Stats
Blacktown City FC 4 (Keanu Moore 18’, Mitchell Mallia 45’, Jak O’Brien 46’, Danny Choi 84’)
APIA Leichhardt FC 3 (Cameron Fong 31’, Presley Ortiz 52’ 69’)
Sunday March 2nd 2025
Landen Stadium, Seven Hills
Referee: Brodie Merchant
Assistant Referees: Patrick Teleki and Hayden Michlmayr
Fourth Official: Sophie Allum
Blacktown City FC 1. Cayden Henderson (GK), 3. Jarred McKinley (16. Benjamin Berry 55’), 4. Lachlan Campbell (Maksim Jez 73’), 5. Grant Lynch, 6. Adam Berry (22. Jacob Maniti 59’), 7. Travis Major (c), 8. Jak O’Brien (17. Martin Fernandez 73’), 9. Keanu Moore, 14. Mitchell Mallia (Danny Choi 73’), 18. Nicholas O’Brien, 23. Jakob Cresnar
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Zac Bowling
Yellow Cards: Jak O’Brien 70’
Red Cards: Nil
APIA Leichhardt FC: 2. Seiya Kambayashi, 7. Jack Stewart, 8. Joel Bertolissio, 9. Presley Ortiz, 14. Cameron Fong, 15. Themba Muata-Marlow, 17. Jordan Segreto, 18. Adrian Ucchino (c) (99. Franco Farinella 79’), 21. Michael Kouta, 22. Eddie Caspers (30. Alex Denmead 86’), 80. Oliver Kalac
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Anthony Bouzanis (GK), 4. Josh Symons, 6. Anthony Sparacino, 29. Maksim Kasalovic
Yellow Cards: Eddie Caspers 37’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Jak O’Brien (BC)
2 – Jordan Segreto (AL)
1 – Danny Choi (BC)
-By Katrina May
