St George City Shock High-Flying United 58 In Round 25 Classic
St George City FA secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Sydney United 58 at Penshurst Park in Round 25 of the NPL Men’s NSW competition, with new recruit Lucas Bedleg scoring the decisive goal to deliver a huge three points in the club’s battle away from the relegation zone.
The result was even more impressive given Sydney United 58 entered the contest full of confidence after their gruelling midweek Hahn Australia Cup victory over A-League opposition Central Coast Mariners, which was decided via penalties.
For St George City, it was a complete team performance and a deserved reward, while Bedleg announced himself in the competition with a match-winning moment that could prove vital during the final stages of the season.
The opening half-hour was a classic battle of attrition, with both sides refusing to give an inch and chances proving difficult to create.
Sydney United 58 produced the first real opportunity in the 25th minute when Bailey Rule delivered a cross from the by-line that found Kyle Cimenti inside the penalty area. The forward’s close-range header was comfortably dealt with by St George goalkeeper Jack Kenny.
The hosts responded immediately a minute later, with Bassam Sabbagh seeing his effort skim the top of the net and go over the crossbar.
St George City almost opened the scoring in the 29th minute after capitalising on a defensive error from Sydney United while playing out from the back. Bedleg found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Adam Pavlesic, but the shot-stopper produced a brilliant reflex save to deny him.
The home side continued to threaten, with Brodie Clarkson going close in the 38th minute. Receiving a clever pass on the edge of the box, Clarkson turned brilliantly before seeing his low diagonal effort drift agonisingly wide.
The second half began with St George City pushing forward, and they were rewarded just four minutes after the restart.
In the 49th minute, Sabbagh delivered a dangerous cross from the left, with Bedleg getting the decisive touch from close range to give the hosts a deserved 1-0 lead.
Sydney United 58 immediately looked for a response and came close in the 57th minute when Carlos De Oliveira’s free-kick from just outside the box took a slight deflection before narrowly missing the target and going out for a corner.
St George City almost doubled their advantage in the 63rd minute. An inswinging corner was met by Benjamin Berry, whose powerful diving header forced an outstanding diving save from Pavlesic.
Sydney United 58 continued to push, but St George’s defence remained disciplined.
Yohn Pedersen created another opportunity in the 70th minute, turning neatly on the edge of the penalty area before forcing Pavlesic into another important save.
From the resulting corner, the ball fell invitingly to Berry at the back post, but his header sailed just over the crossbar.
United 58 pushed desperately for an equaliser late on, with Mason Wells delivering a dangerous cross in stoppage time that found Gabriel Tilo inside the area.
Tilo struck powerfully, but Kenny produced a superb diving save to turn the effort behind and preserve St George’s clean sheet and three points.
A sour note to the visitors was the sending off of Mason Wells at the end of the match, a suspension that will rob United 58 of one of their star players in their upcoming matches.
Following the match, St George City coach Mirko Jurilj praised his side’s performance and mentality.
“That was the best 90-minute performance we have put in all season,” he said.
“We’ve had our moments this year, but tonight the boys were absolutely superb.
“Sydney United 58 may have expected us to line up at the back, but that was not the case and we had a real go at them. To gain the three points, knowing Olympic lost last night, was really pleasing.
“As a team we have it in us, and we have shown that in patches this season, but tonight it worked and next week we’ll go into our game with the same mentality to win.”
Sydney United 58 coach Miro Vlastelica acknowledged the impact of a demanding week but remained positive despite the narrow defeat.
“We have had a big week and there was a lot of fatigue and you could see it,” he said.
“Their goal was really out of nothing and a bit lucky. I thought while the first half may have been even, we dominated in the second half.
“They are a very defensive team, but our boys kept fighting until the end and we had some good chances out there tonight.”
Match Stats
St GEORGE CITY FA: 1 (Bedleg 49’)
SYDNEY UNITED 58 FC: 0
Saturday 25th July, 2026
Penshurst Park
Referee: Blake Sanchez-Cruz
Assistant referees: Lance Greenshields, Hayden Kaye
Fourth Official: Tom Seldon
St GEORGE CITY FA: 1. Jack Kenny, 3. Benjamin Berry, 4. Solomon Monahan-Vaiika, 8. Stefano Rossello (10. Paolo Mitry 77’), 9. Lucas Bedleg (6. Tarik Ercan 65’), 11. Ben Giason, 20. Theph Theph, 25. Brodie Clarkson, 33. Louis Khoury (7. Oscar Gultekin 89’), 35. Spencer Webster (16. Yohn Pedersen 65’), 47. Bassam Sabbagh (21. Malik Amin 77’).
Substitutes not used: 13. Franklin Jan, 17. Mason Tatafu,
Yellow Cards: Theph Theph 22’, Ercan 95’
Red Cards: Nil
SYDNEY UNITED 58 FC: 1. Adam Pavlesic, 3. Bailey Rule (23. Mason Wells 46’), 4. Adrian Vlastelica, 6. Dylan Rose, 8. Tomoki Wada, 9. Kyle Cimenti (12. Gabriel Tilo 72’), 10. Carlos De Oliveira, 14. Liam McGing (2. Julian Cop 80’), 17. Michael Glassock, 21. Koya Nakano (7. Leroy Jennings 46’), 35. Tomislav Ozanic (19. Michael Krslovic 72’).
Substitutes not used: 5. Anthony Tomelic, 41. Adrian Bazina.
Yellow Cards: McGing 16’, Wells 92’, A. Valstelica 95’
Red Card: Wells 95’
*Player Ratings have now been hidden until the remainder of the NPL Men’s NSW season.
By National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s reporter Joe Russo
