Wanderers win and cling to hope of staying in NSW’s top flight
Western Sydney Wanderers pushed its hopes of staying alive in the National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW competition with one match remaining after defeating St George FC 3-0 at Wanderers Football Park on Saturday night.
St George FC authored the first shot of the game as Bai Antoniou wriggled into space and fired over the bar.
Wanderers soon responded with their own effort. Alaat Abdul-Rahman fizzed an effort over the bar in a warm opening stanza.
Next, Gianni Di Pizio tried his luck from range for St George FC as the contest firmed into a quick rhythm.
Jaden Casella led the line well for the visitors. He was found well and surged on goal but was denied by a strong stop from Wanderers keeper Tristan Vidackovic.
Wanderers found their rhythm and started to test St George FC custodian Mackenzie Syron. He had a pair of shots from Abdul-Rahman and Julian Cop blocked.
Western Sydney Wanderers FC made it 1-0 in the 31st minute as Jesse Cameron sent in a low cross which Aydan Hammond squeezed home.
Buoyed by their goal, Wanderers kept pushing for more. Cameron again the central figure released Awan Lual who snapped his shot over.
The Wanderers finished the half with another big chance. It needed a strong stop from Syron to keep it at 1-0 going into half-time.
St George FC brought on Sunday Yona at half-time to give the visitirs energy. He combined well with Bai Antoniou for the latter to shoot.
The visitors kept looking for an equaliser as Di Pizio stood over a free-kick and drove it right to Vidackovic.
Cameron showed off his range of passing again in the 62nd minute as he put one onto the head of Abdul-Rahman who nodded the ball over.
The Saints marched forward as the game opened up. Yona drove an effort low then substitute Nikola Skataric sprayed wide of the post.
Wanderers then made it 2-0 in the 85rd minute from a set piece. Anthony Pantazopoulos curled in a free-kick which Syron dived right to save then substitute Tristan Arrate turned home.
They quickly extended it to a three-goal lead. Two substitutes combined as Max Hately skipped forward and found Johnny Pavlovic to slot home for 3-0 in the 89th minute.
The hosts saw out the rest of the game without incident and earned a valuable three points which moved them off the bottom of the NPL Men’s NSW ladder with a game remaining, the final one being a huge one at Pluim Park against another relegation threatened club in the Central Coast Mariners.
Post match, a delighted Western Sydney Wanderers coach Richard Cardozo reflected on a result which had been a long time coming.
“It was a huge result for us and a long time coming, we’ve been in games and not converted our chances.
“The mentality was top today across the whole squad including our substitutes and I can’t be prouder.
“[Jesse] Cameron is a top pro, he is always switched on and the best person to lead this team in their fight to stay in the league. Everything is in our hands, away at the Mariners but hopefully the same result happens next week.” finished Cardozo.
While St George FC manager Fabian Micelli stated his team played well in patches.
“I thought we played well in the second half for long periods but moments cost us in this game tonight.
“It is a tough period for us, we can’t move much and we’re in a place that we have to see out the season.” said Micelli.
Match Stats
Western Sydney Wanderers FC 3 (Hammond ’31 Arrate ’85 Pavlovic ‘89)
St George FC 0
Saturday 23 August 2025
Wanderers Football Park
Referee: Kurt Ams
Assistant Referees: Blake Sanchez-Cruz & Blake Eastwood
Fourth Official: Charbel Geha
Western Sydney Wanderers: 1. Tristan Vidackovic, 4. Ricky Fransen, 8. Nicholas Badolato (26. Antony Barbic ’69), 9. Alaat Abdul-Rahman (16. Johnny Pavlovic ’86), 10. Edmun Haddad (24. Tristan Arrate ’57), 18. Awan Lual (19. Max Hately ’69), 21. Aydan Hammond, 22. Jesse Cameron, 27. Julian Cop, 31. Aidan Simmons, 32. Anthony Pantazopoulos (2. Nathan Barrie ’86)
Unused subs: 20. Lucas Sinnott
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
St George FC: 2. Rocco Smith, 3. Troy Danaskos, 5. Nicholas Kalogeru, 8. Evangelo Souris, 10. Jaden Casella (9. Chan Yelchan ’35), 15. Bai Antoniou, 16. Kaidyn Wright, 18. Gianni Di Pizio (19. Nikola Skataric ’75), 28. Jesper Webber (13. Sunday Yona ’46), 34. Kota Toyooka, 99. Mackenzie Syron
Unused subs: 20. Daniel Axford, 24. Javier Rodriguez, 27. Jayden Seeto
Yellow cards: Di Pizio ’39 Smith ’68 Wright ‘82
Red cards: nil
Player Ratings:
3: Jesse Cameron (WSW)
2: Aydan Hammond (WSW)
1: Anthony Pantazopoulos (WSW)
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
