Ten-man St George City rescue a draw against Wanderers
St George City mustered a remarkable effort to come from behind while a man down to earn a 1-1 draw with Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday evening at Wanderers Park thwarting the hosts maximum points as they fight against relegation.
St George played a little over a full half with only ten on the field, during which they managed to equalise and salvage a crucial point that ensures they are still well in the hunt for a top six finish.
The result also represents two points dropped for the Wanderers, which is worsened by the fact fellow relegation-threatened side Mt Druitt Town Rangers scored an impressive upset over Wollongong to leap above the Western Sydney side on the ladder.
The Wanderers came out of the block well with Awan Lual nearly creating a goal on his own in the seventh minute with a driving run into the box, though the forward’s effort went down the middle in what was a comfortable save for goalkeeper Jack Kenny in the end.
The hosts again came even closer in the 13th minute when Ricky Fransen delivered a strong header from a corner only to be denied by the left post.
Western Sydney eventually broke through in the 29th minute when Lual unleashed a fantastic shot on his left that forced an incredible save out of Kenny, tipping the ball onto the crossbar only for Max Hately to follow through and head the rebound in from tap-in range.
A rapid counter-attack nearly saw the Wanderers double their lead in the 37th minute with Alaat Abdul-Rahman striking the ball into the bottom left corner, but Kenny committed himself well to keep it out.
City nearly found an equaliser in the 42nd minute after the ball came to Goncalo Agrelos on the left side of the box, but his effort was denied by the left post.
The complexion of the game changed dramatically in the 44th minute after an off-the-ball incident between Marc McNulty and Fransen saw the City marksman receive a straight red card following a consultation between the referees.
Despite the disadvantage, St George managed to get level in the 55th minute when a free kick saw the ball fall to captain Solomon-Johnn Monahan-Vaiika, with the centre half’s effort in the box deflecting off a Wanderers defender and lobbing over keeper Tristan Vidackovic into the net.
The home side nearly restored their lead in the 66th minute after creating a chance from another free kick set piece with the ball eventually being drilled towards Abdul-Rahman, but he could not control the power as he blasted his effort over the crossbar.
Abdul-Rahman had another golden opportunity to put the Wanderers ahead in the 78th minute, though Kenny again intervened as he claimed the ball that went straight and low at him.
City’s Dakota Askew nearly earned them the three points in the 90+4th minute but his effort at the near post was saved well by Vidackovic.
St George City coach Manny Spanoudakis praised his players for earning the result given the challenges.
“We dominated the second half with ten men and possibly could have got a second. I’m disappointed we gifted them a soft goal as well, but they are a very good team with some of the best young talent in the country,” Spanoudakis told Football NSW.
“We will take a point and regroup. There is still a lot to play for in the next three games.”
Wanderers coach Richie Cardozo admitted it was a frustrating result after going ahead and missing some good chances to get back in front. A win would have seen them slowly ease their relegation pain.
“The red card should have given us a boost but we came out half asleep, conceded a very sloppy goal and still had three or four counter-attacks and a couple of good chances to get 2-1 up, so I’m very disappointed in the result,” Cardozo told Football NSW.
“Hopefully it doesn’t cost us in the next couple of weeks.”
Match Stats
Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (Max Hately 29’)
St George City FA 1 (Solomon-Johnn Monahan-Vaiika 55’)
Saturday 9 August
Wanderers Park
Referee: Rowan Fisher
Assistant Referees: Brad Wright and Lara Hogan
Fourth Official: Glen Stubbings
Western Sydney Wanderers FC: 1. Tristan Vidackovic, 4. Ricky Fransen, 5. Lachlan Tilt, 8. Nicholas Badolato, 9. Alaat Abdul-Rahman (11. Kaan Nizam 81’), 10. Edmun Haddad (24. Tristan Arrarte 59’), 18. Awan Lual, 19. Max Hately (7. Dallo Sandy 59’), 22. Jesse Cameron, 26. Antony Barbic (27. Julian Cop 73’), 33. Leon Alizart (2. Lachlan Henderson 73’)
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Lucas Sinnott
Yellow Cards: Leon Alizart 36’, Ricky Fransen 44’
Red Cards: Nil
St George City FA: 1. Jack Kenny, 4. Solomon-Johnn Monahan-Vaiika, 5. Lewis Miccio (99. Peter Kekeris 73’), 9. Marc McNulty, 10. Paolo Mitry (8. Dominic Cox 46’), 15. Nathan Grimaldi, 18. Goncalo Agrelos (17. Noah Ovens 46’), 19. Jesse Photi (7. Levi Sciuriaga 64’), 23. Dakota Askew, 25. Brodie Clarkson, 33. Louis Khoury (2. Matthew Wahby 81’)
Substitutes Not Used: 13. Cameron Kemp
Yellow Cards: Dominic Cox 75’, Peter Kekeris 83’
Red Cards: Marc McNulty 44’
Player Ratings:
3: Solomon-Johnn Monahan-Vaiika (STG)
2: Ricky Fransen (WSW)
1: Jack Kenny (STG)
-By Dimitri Kallos
