Saints snatch slender win over Sydney FC
St George FC picked up a 1-0 win over Sydney FC in a tight rescheduled round 13 match on a chilly Tuesday night at Barton Park.
Sydney FC had their moments in the game, but St George created plenty of chances and took the lead through Troy Danaskos’ penalty midway through the half.
The side failed to take advantage of a series of opportunities after the opener and went into halftime with a one-goal lead.
St George did not add to their lead in the second period, but one goal was enough to pick up a win.
The visitors nearly took the lead within 14 minutes as Taye Hedley latched onto a right-sided cross to the far post, where he sent a slicing volley just over.
In the 21st minute, the side came close again – this time through Lachlan Middleton, whose volley from the right of the box was straight at Mackenzie Syron.
However, moments later, St George took the ball down the right and Justin Poon was brought down in the box by William Kennedy, seeing a penalty awarded.
Danaskos stepped up and blasted a confident penalty down the middle to give the home side the lead.
In the 24th minute, the hosts found space down the right again as Jaden Casella shifted inside and fired towards the near post, but Sydney goalkeeper Gus Hoefsloot saved well.
Three minutes later, Hoefsloot was called into action with a stunning triple save, repelling efforts from Poon and twice from Casella in quick succession to keep his team in the game.
St George carried on with their barrage and struck the woodwork with five regular minutes to play.
Pat O’Shea nodded onto the crossbar from a left-sided corner, and then the ball came out to Nicholas Kalogerou, whose volley deflected, but Hoefsloot reacted sharply to kick it away.
Despite a collection of shooting chances for St George, Hoefsloot’s goalkeeping meant the home side held only a slender lead over their opponents.
St George remained a threat after halftime and in the 50th minute, Poon pulled the ball back from the left for Casella who sent a dipping shot narrowly over.
Sydney responded six minutes later, when energetic substitute Marin France mazed his way down the right before finding Lachlan Middleton, the midfielder skying his effort.
Hoefsloot was called into action once more for Sydney in the 59th minute, needing to claw away Danaskos’ right-footed strike from the left of the box.
In the 66th minute, the visitors found space down the left. Mathias Macallister drove into the box before he lashed a shot that Syron caught.
Key to St George’s solid defensive play was Jayden Seeto, whose anticipation and tackling provided the hosts with a platform to build from.
St George were almost left to rue their missed opportunities as Macallister turned in the aftermath of a free-kick for Sydney but was flagged offside.
The home side overcame a nervy final few moments to edge out their opponents and claim a narrow win.
Match Stats
St George FC 1 (Troy Danaskos 23’ penalty)
Sydney FC 0
Tuesday 27 May 2025
Barton Park, Banksia
St George FC: 99. Mackenzie Syron, 3. Troy Danaskos, 5. Nicholas Kalogerou, 6. Pat O’Shea, 8. Evangelo Souris, 10. Jaden Casella (9. Chan Yelchan 85’), 13. Sunday Yona (7. Aeden O’Shea 59’), 14. Justin Poon, 15. Bai Antoniou, 16. Kaidyn Wright (12. Thomas Dunn 77’), 27. Jayden Seeto
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Daniel Axford, 23. Javier Rodriguez, 34. Kota Toyooka
Yellow Cards: Mackenzie Syron 87’, Evangelo Souris 90’
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney FC: 30. Gus Hoefsloot, 6. Tyler Williams, 9. Mathias Macallister, 10. Taye Hedley, 14. Jared Middleton, 20. Tiago Quintal (39. Dylan Rose 46’), 21. Zachary De Jesus (4. Joseph Calusic 77’), 24. Wataru Kamijo (33. Marin France 46’), 27. Lachlan Middleton, 29. Joey Lacey (22. Zac Fowler 68’), 37. William Kennedy (47. Corey Cronin 68’)
Substitutes Not Used: 12. Alexander Zaverdinos
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Jayden Seeto (SGFC)
2 – Gus Hoefsloot (SFC)
1 – Justin Poon (SGFC)
Report by Tim Gibson
