Landen Stadium is a fortress no more as Blacktown City suffered its second successive loss following a 2-1 defeat at the hands of a determined St George City outfit on Saturday evening.
The hosts took lead in the 31st minute with a collector’s item header off a corner from defender Ben Berry before they were pegged back.
St George City’s comeback started in the 78th minute when Dominic Cox thrashed home to make it 1-1 then Kosta Petratos bagged the winner in the 86th minute much to the delight for coach and former City player Mirko Jurilj.
The first chance of the contest fell to the hosts as Blacktown City’s top scorer Jak O’Brien snatched the ball in midfield and strode on goal but whistled his effort wide.
St George City responded with their own chance. Jason Romero cut inside and whipped a shot that was saved off the line from Travis Major.
Next, Martin Fernandez tested St George City keeper Jack Kenny. Fernandez surged through midfield and sent in a shot which Kenny dealt with easily.
Blacktown City FC made it 1-0 in the 31st minute. O’Brien swung in a corner which was nodded home by defender Ben Berry.
Fumoto Kamada tried to engineer something for St George City soon after. He had an interchange of passes with Romero before the former fired over.
Fernandez was an outlet on the right wing for Blacktown City FC. The attacker tried an acrobatic effort in the box which was swept off the line.
St George City went close from the restart. Romero threaded it through for Kamada again who ballooned his effort wide.
The visitors continued to surge forward. Louis Khoury turned well inside the box and forced Blacktown City FC keeper Tristan Prendergast into his first stop.
Blacktown City FC tried to doubled their advantage from another set piece. Mitchell Mallia swung in a free-kick that landed onto the roof of the net.
The hosts almost pounced on another error at the back. Jacob Maniti played it through but the final ball evaded the Blacktown City FC attackers.
St George City were limited to efforts from range. Khoury had another effort from range but it fizzed over the net.
The visitors made it 1-1 in the 78th minute. Kosta Petratos had the initial shot saved by Prendergast then Dominic Cox thrashed home.
Blacktown City FC thought they had restored their lead from a free-kick. Grant Lynch got a touch on the set piece and found a trailing Joey Gibbs but the flag was raised for offside.
St George City completed the comeback in the 86th minute. Substitute Jesse Photi curled in the cross then Petratos tapped home from close range and it was 2-1 to the visitors.
Blacktown City FC swept forward to find an equalizer. They had a corner which recycled out to Lynch who volleyed over.
They had one final chance through Gibbs. The ball fell to him inside the box but he whistled his effort wide of the right post.
Speaking post match, St George City coach Mirko Jurilj reflected on a massive win for his side tonight.
“The first half we were a bit passive and they scored off a set piece which seems to be happening frequently for us.
“The second half I thought we deserved the win and went at them to get three points at a place which is tough to take them.” said Jurilj.
Match Stats
Blacktown City FC 1 (Berry ’31)
St George City FA 2 (Cox ’78 Petratos ‘86)
Saturday 29 June 2024
Landen Stadium
Referee: Kurt Ams
Assistant Referees: Matthew Harris & Alexis Johnson
Fourth Official: Hayden Michlmayer
Blacktown City FC: 1. Tristan Prendergast, 5. Grant Lynch, 7. Travis Major, 8. Jak O’Brien, 10. Mario Shabow, 12. Tyren Burnie, 14. Mitchell Mallia (42. Lachlan Henderson ’72), 16. Ben Berry, 17. Martin Fernandez (11. Danny Choi ’61), 22. Jacob Maniti (19. Julian Rodriguez ’89), 23. Joey Gibbs
Unused subs: 20. Cayden Henderson, 35. Aiden Renshaw
Yellow cards: Shabow ’77 Gibbs ‘87
Red cards: nil
St George City FA: 1. Jack Kenny, 2. Cameron Fong, 4. Solomon-John Monahan-Vaiika, 5. Fumoto Kamada, 6. Tarik Ercan, 7. Nathan Roberts (14. Paolo Mitry ’71), 8. Dominic Cox, 10. Jason Romero, 11. Kosta Petratos, 25. Brodie Clarkson, 33. Louis Khoury (19. Jesse Photi ’71)
Unused subs: 21. Ryan Reid, 28. Noah Ovens, 36. Noah Albert
Yellow cards: Kamada ‘83
Red cards: nil
Player Ratings:
3: Dominic Cox (SFA)
2: Jak O’Brien (BFC)
1: Cameron Fong (SFA)
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)