Hills United battled past a valiant 10-man St George City to win 2-0 on Saturday night at Landen Stadium.
Hills went in front in the 34th minute through Nicolai Muller from the spot after Solomon-Johnn Monahan-Vaiika was sent off – this ultimately changed the match for the visitors however City stuck to their guns and played well soon after.
Despite St George remaining a threat even though they were a man down with a plethora of chances and possession, Hills added their second in the fourth minute of additional time through Sunday Yona.
United carved open an opportunity within the first minute. Yu Okubo forced his way into the box but shovelled his shot over the crossbar.
The side came even closer in the 13th minute when Thomas Makko made his way just inside the box before striking the left post.
Okubo had another shot six minutes later when he received a right-sided cross, but his looping header was comfortably caught by City goalkeeper Jack Kenny.
St George’s first meaningful effort of the evening came in the 23rd minute. Jason Romero lined up a powerful strike from outside the area that flashed past the left post.
The visitors went forward again five minutes later. Tarik Ercan met a left-sided corner at the near post, with his header being blocked as the ball bounced narrowly wide.
The game got a lot harder for St George in the 33rd minute. A persistent Thomas Lopez managed to nick the ball for Hills from Monahan-Vaiika inside the box.
The City defender bundled Lopez over, resulting in a red card for the St George man and a penalty.
Muller dispatched an emphatic penalty from there, firing the ball down the middle with Kenny diving to his left.
United took their lead into halftime after a solid showing from the team in the first period.
The hosts made a positive start to the second half through Lopez, whose side-footed shot from inside the box was held onto by Kenny.
City went close to an equaliser in the 64th minute when Dominic Cox’s header from a left-sided cross was well-saved by Ryan Wood in the Hills goal.
Maki Petratos had a shot for the team eight minutes later as he fired a stinging free-kick that was repelled strongly by Wood.
St George kept pushing and created a great opportunity in the 78th minute.
Paolo Mitry managed to scoop the ball into his own path while running in behind but Wood pulled off a crucial stop in the one-on-one situation.
Yona could have sealed the game for Hills in the 88th minute, taking aim from the edge of the box, but the ball sailed just over.
Mitry tested Wood’s glove work again in the 91st minute with an effort from the left edge of the box, and the goalkeeper batted it away.
United finally found the settler deep in stoppage time. The side managed to clear a corner that City goalkeeper Kenny was up for.
Yona burst through the middle of the pitch before racing in and sliding a composed finish into a vacant net.
The final whistle was blown moments later, confirming Hills’ fourth victory of the season, a lucky one, but something they won’t complain about as the win has pushed them away from the bottom placed positions.
Match Stats
Hills United FC 2 (Nicolai Muller 34’ penalty, Sunday Yona 90+4’)
St George City FA 0
Saturday 27 April 2024
Landen Stadium, Seven Hills
Referee: Eric Saba
Assistant Referees: Cameron Wright and Matthew Harris
Fourth Official: Hayden Langholtz
Hills United FC: 1. Ryan Wood, 4. Brian Jamba (22. Byron Ginn 46’), 9. Yu Okubo (7. Wade Giovenali 76’), 11. Anthony Frangie (18. Mitchell Smith 84’), 12. Jordan Lane, 13. Cameron Philp, 15. Noah Casserly, 17. Caleb Jackson-Brown, 20. Thomas Lopez (24. Sunday Yona 69’), 26. Thomas Makko (19. Glen Kelshaw 69’), 27. Nicolai Muller
Substitutes Not Used: 31. William Lucas
Yellow Cards: Thomas Lopez 59’, Nicolai Muller 71’
Red Cards: Nil
St George City FA: 1. Jack Kenny, 2. Cameron Fong, 3. Joshua Hong (88. Mohammed Khamis 80′, 4. Solomon-Johnn Monahan-Vaiika, 5. Fumoto Kamada, 6. Tarik Ercan, 7. Nathan Roberts (8. Dominic Cox 46’), 10. Jason Romero (14. Paolo Mitry 70’), 25. Brodie Clarkson, 30. Presley Ortiz (9. Maki Petratos 46’), 33. Louis Khoury (11. Kosta Petratos 46’)
Substitutes Not Used: 13. Joseph Knowles
Yellow Cards: Maki Petratos 80’
Red Cards: Solomon-Johnn Monahan-Vaiika 33’
Player Ratings:
3 – Ryan Wood (HU)
2 – Nicolai Muller (HU)
1 – Brodie Clarkson (SGC)
Report by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_