Antelmi hat-trick sinks St George FC
A Patrick Antelmi inspired Sydney United 58 FC took out an enthralling National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW round 11 contest against St George FC 4-2 at Barton Park.
Reduced to ten men late in the first half, the visitors found another gear down a man with Antelmi taking the plaudits after Leroy Jennings opened their account earlier. St George earlier scoring two goals in as many minutes midway through the first half with Bai Antoniou scoring a memorable goal on a forgettable night for the hosts.
After a couple of warning shots minutes earlier, Sydney United 58 would take the lead in the 14th minute. A St George turnover in the centre circle allowing Michael Glassock to release Leroy Jennings through on goal. Jennings taking a touch to take it past the keeper before applying a composed finish past some back tracking defenders.
The visitors were in no mood to let the hosts get away with errant passes working the ball forward. Leroy Jennings was once again involved in their second applying good pressure out of possession before he picked up the ball and saw an initial shot blocked, Jennings then slipping it wide to Antelmi who wasn’t going to miss from close range for 2-0.
There was a feeling that there could be more goals on the way in this one and St George reduced the lead to one in the 27th minute. A Jaden Casella diagonal ball from the top corner of the box found Justin Poon across goal for the tap in finish and it was game on.
And just like that we were level again through a tremendous Bai Antoniou finish a minute later. Antoniou picked the ball up on the right flank before taking it inside and trying his luck from distance. His left footed strike finding the bottom right corner notching up his seventh of the year.
Having lost control of the fixture, the job appeared to get harder for the visitors right before the half hour, Carlos De Oliveira sent off for a lunging challenge.
The Saints were expected to use the man advantage as well as playing at home, but instead were unlocked by United 58.
Patrick Antlemi found his second of the night in stunning fashion, the striker controlling a Bailey Rule attempt before applying a finish across his body into the bottom right corner as United 58 went up into the break 3-2.
Having had the half-time break to regather their thoughts, the visitors focused on making themselves hard to break down in the early stages of the second half.
Matthew Hatch nearly added their fourth before the 70th minute, winning the ball high once again before his left footed strike was saved well by Mackenzie Syron.
An effort soon followed by a Patrick Antelmi free-kick five minutes later, his strike from a dangerous position just wide of the right facing post.
Antelmi then completed his hat-trick with ten minutes left. Matthew Hatch showing tremendous tenacity to win the ball inside his attacking area before he cut it back to Antelmi finishing in prime position inside the area.
It was a devastating blow to the Saints who failed to take advantage of United 58’s ten men although Ante Juric’s troops played with heart and determination and were smart across the pitch in controlling the match.
Three crucial points lost for the hosts while it was a morale boosting victory for the former NSL giants on Easter Saturday with Antelmi playing the main catalyst starring form the beginning till the end.
Match Stats
St George FC 2 (Poon 27’, Antoniou 28’)
Sydney United 58 FC 4 (Jennings 15’, Antelmi 19’ 45+2’ 81’)
Saturday 19th April, 2025
Barton Park, Banksia
Referee: Brodie Merchant
Assistant Referees: Jackson Tippett & Lucy Hungerford
Fourth Official: Daniel Drewitt
St George FC: 99. Mackenzie Syron, 3. Troy Danaskos, 4. Mark Rodic, 5. Nicholas Kalogerou, 6. Pat O’Shea, 8. Evangelo Souris (13. Sunday Yona 69’), 10. Jaden Casella, 14. Justin Poon,15. Bai Antoniou, 16. Kaidyn Wright (23. Javier Rodriguez 80’), 27. Jayden Seeto
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Daniel Axford, 12. Thomas Dunn, 34. Kota Toyooka, 40. Hassan Kamberovic.
Yellow Cards: Antoniou 5’, Syron 30’, Wright 67’
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney United 58 FC: 1. Tristan Prendergast, 3. Bailey Rule, 4. Adrian Vlastellica, 9. Patrick Antelmi (8. Mario Shabow 90’), 10. Carlos De Oliveira, 11. Matthew Hatch, 14. Liam Mcging, 15. Tariq Maia (19. Aidan Milicevic 75’), 17. Michael Glassock, 22. Stephen De Robillard (13. Alessandro Lacalandra 46‘), 32. Leroy Jennings (16. Anthony Krilic 90’)
Substitutes Not Used: 31. Josip Orlovic, 31. Josip Orlovic, 37. Luke Zuvela.
Yellow Cards: Vlastelica 5’, Antelmi 71’
Red Cards: De Oliveira 32’
Player Ratings
3- Patrick Antelmi (SU)
2- Tariq Maia (SU)
1- Matthew Hatch (SU)
By Justin Smith
