Saints come out on top in St George derby
St George FC have sealed bragging rights over local rivals St George City after downing them 2-1 at Penshurst Park on Saturday evening.
The travellers seized control of the contest with a strong first half performance which saw them go into the break two goals up.
The Saints took the lead in the 13th minute after goalkeeper Jack Kenny’s save of Jayden Casella’s shot rebounded into the path of Bai Antoniou, with the forward then striking the ball sweetly into the top right.
Antoniou influenced the game once more in the 43rd minute as the visitors doubled their lead, with the forward hitting a low pass across goal for teammate Justin Poon to hit in from close range.
The Saints came close to making it three in the 56th minute when Harrison Farrow drilled a low shot towards the bottom right, though Kenny managed to produce a strong save to keep it out.
The hosts halved the deficit at the end of the 60th minute when defender Caio De Godoy met the ball from Paolo Mitry’s corner delivery, guiding it into the bottom right to bring his team back into the contest.
St George FC seemed destined to score their third in the 80th minute when Jaden Casella delivered a great curling low ball across goal for substitute Sunday Yona to tap in, but Kenny threw himself to his left to make a brilliant save.
Kenny made another save in the 89th minute as he kept out a shot by Antoniou from a tight angle on the right side.
The Saints missed a good chance to bury the game in the 90+5th minute when Thomas Dunn hit the ball wide of the left post, though his miss went unpunished as his side held on to secure the three points.
The hosts had to finish the game with ten players on the field after captain Solomon-Johnn Monahan Vaiika had to be stretchered off due to injury, which they hope will not prove to be severe.
St George FC coach Fabian Miceli said the win cannot be understated, noting derby victories are always special but that this one held significance given the numerous first-team players they have out currently.
“I think we were really good in the first half. I think we dropped off in the second half. We panicked a bit. We still have mentality issues in the team when we are ahead,” Miceli told Football NSW.
“We have lost leads a lot but we are down to 12 outfield first-team players so it was always going to be a battle for us as we don’t have depth at the moment. I am very proud of the players.”
Miceli stressed that his team should use the result as reassurance that they can challenge for a top-six finish.
“The boys need to believe they are a top six side. I have been telling them from pre-season and maybe they are starting to believe. We have got so many players out and we are still winning games in a tough competition.”
Match Stats
St George City FA 1 (Caio De Godoy 60’)
St George FC 2 (Bai Antoniou 13’, Justin Poon 43’)
Saturday 29 March
Penshurst Park
Referee: Michael Weiner
Assistant Referees: Isaac Riggs and Lindsay Edmonds
Fourth Official: Joshua Kermond
St George City FA: 1. Jack Kenny, 3. Caio De Godoy, 4. Solomon-Johnn Monahan-Vaiika. 7. Nathan Roberts (19. Jesse Photi 46’), 9. Marc McNulty (24. Zakariya Hammoud 86’), 10. Paolo Mitry, 11. Fumoto Kamada (2. Matthew Wahby 88’), 15. Nathan Grimaldi, 17. Noah Ovens (8. Dominic Cox 46’), 23. Dakota Askew, 25. Brodie Clarkson (18. Goncalo Agrelos 70’)
Substitutes Not Used: 13. Cameron Kemp
Yellow Cards: Caio De Godoy 70’. Goncalo Agrelos 88’
Red Cards: Nil
St George FC: 99. Mackenzie Syron, 3. Troy Danaskos, 4. Mark Rodic, 5. Nicholas Kalogerou, 6. Pat O’Shea, 8. Evangelos Souris (16. Kaidyn Wright 69’), 10. Jaden Casella (40. Hassan Kamberovic 90+3’), 14. Justin Poon (12. Thomas Dunn 69’), 15. Bai Antoniou, 27, Jayden Seeto, 35. Harrison Farrow (13. Sunday Yona 61’)
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Daniel Axford, 23. Javier Rodriguez
Yellow Cards:
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3: Bai Antoniou (SG)
2: Jaden Casella (SG)
1: Jack Kenny (STC)
-By Dimitri Kallos
