St George City edge out Wanderers
In a cagey encounter at Penshurst Park, St George City edged past Western Sydney Wanderers 1-0 on Saturday night.
The breakthrough came through an unfortunate own goal from Wanderers’ captain Aiden Simmons just after the hour mark.
The Wanderers could have been in front within the first couple of minutes. Alaat Abdul-Rahman escaped down the right wing but fired wide of the near post.
Western Sydney had another opportunity 16 minutes in, courtesy of a quick counter. Edmun Haddad found space on the right, and his shot deflected into Simmons’ path on the edge of the box, who forced Jack Kenny into a save.
St George had a chance of their own in the 26th minute. A ball was lofted high over the Wanderers’ defence for Nathan Roberts, who could only timidly prod the ball straight to Lucas Sinnott.
Moments later, Simmons took on a strike at goal for Western Sydney with a fierce effort that Kenny palmed away.
Abdul-Rahman came close for the Wanderers again in the 43rd minute as he got his boot to a left-sided free-kick but failed to direct it on target.
Neither side was able to take advantage of their few chances in the first half as they went into the sheds with the deadlock still to be broken.
City had the first opportunity of the second half three minutes in. Goncalo Agrelos steered a volley from the middle of the box wide of the left post.
In the 54th minute, St George came forward again as McNulty got up well for a header from a right-sided cross, but the ball bounced to Sinnott.
Western Sydney returned fire less than a minute later as Haddad launched a left-footed strike from range that Kenny superbly tipped behind for a corner.
However, 65 minutes in, the Wanderers went behind. A long ball forward was inadvertently headed over Sinnott by his own fullback, Simmons, and the ball bounced into the goal.
St George almost doubled their lead 10 minutes later when Matthew Wahby took aim from the right of the box as the ball flew just over.
The Wanderers pursued an equaliser in the 83rd minute through Noah Peacock, whose powerful left-footed shot was well-caught by Kenny.
Deep into stoppage time, Western Sydney’s task was made even more difficult when defender Lachlan Tilt was shown a second yellow card and sent off.
Soon after, Khoury looked to seal the points for St George with a bouncing strike that Sinnott parried away.
The visitors could not find a route back into the game in what remained as St George City secured a valuable win.
Match Stats
St George City FA 1 (Aiden Simmons 65’ own goal)
Western Sydney Wanderers FC 0
Saturday 26 April 2025
Penshurst Park, Penshurst
Referee: Jake Rose
Assistant Referees: Ethan Zvargulis and Blake Eastwood
Fourth Official: Glen Stubbings
St George City FA: 1. Jack Kenny, 2. Matthew Wahby, 6. Tarik Ercan (15. Nathan Grimaldi 69’), 7. Nathan Roberts (19. Jesse Photi 58’), 9. Marc McNulty, 10. Paolo Mitry (33. Louis Khoury 58’), 11. Fumoto Kamada, 17. Noah Ovens, 18. Goncalo Agrelos, 23. Dakota Askew, 25. Brodie Clarkson (12. Kai Kamikura 77’)
Substitutes Not Used: 13. Cameron Kemp, 16. William Kounnas
Yellow Cards: Tarik Ercan 20’, Louis Khoury 63’
Red Cards: Nil
Western Sydney Wanderers FC: 20. Lucas Sinnott, 4. Ricky Fransen, 5. Lachlan Tilt, 9. Alaat Abdul-Rahman, 10. Edmun Haddad (8. Nicholas Badolato 63’), 11. Kaan Nizam (6. Ryley Hollingdale 63’), 18. Awan Lual (38. Noah Peacock 23’), 27. Julian Cop (26. Antony Barbic 77’), 31. Aidan Simmons, 32. Saxon Hillyer (24. Tristan Arrarte 77’), 34. Meliwethu Nkomo
Substitutes Not Used: 30. Marcus Petrovski
Yellow Cards: Noah Peacock 72’, Lachlan Tilt 75’ 90+3’, Aiden Simmons 81’
Red Cards: Lachlan Tilt 90+3’
Player Ratings:
3 – Marc McNulty (SGC)
2 – Jack Kenny (SGC)
1 – Lucas Sinnott (WSW)
Report by Tim Gibson
