A 90th minute equaliser helped Sydney Olympic earn a 1-1 draw against St George City FA at Penshurst Park on Saturday evening, April 12.
The game was marked by two goals at the death of each half to force them into splitting the points, a disappointing result particularly for City who have scored just one win from their past seven league matches.
The game started quietly with the first half-chance created by Olympic in the 16th minute from a corner kick that fell towards Jack Armson in the box, with the midfielder striking the ball with venom as it sailed wide of the right post.
City responded with a genuine chance in the 23rd minute after the ball found its way to left winger Fumoto Kamada, who met it in the box and cut inside before releasing a shot on his weaker right foot that also went of the right post.
The best opportunity of the game came in the 28th minute after some beautiful play from the hosts led to striker Marc McNulty unleashing a strong effort in the box that smacked into the left post and ricocheted across goal, eventually going out for a goal kick.
St George City managed to take the lead in the 44th minute in fortuitous fashion after Kamada delivered a cross from the left that lobbed over goalkeeper Jack Gibson and deflected into the goal off the right post.
The Blues nearly equalised in the 56th minute when left winger Adam Parkhouse drilled a powerful low ball across goal towards Cyrus Dehmie, though the striker struggled to get control on his first-time shot as it sailed over the crossbar.
City came agonisingly close to doubling their advantage in the 59th minute through Jesse Photi, who struck the ball nicely to force Gibson into a strong save, tipping the ball over the bar.
Parkhouse and Dehmie combined again in the 65th minute with the former delivering a fine cross towards the marksman, who met it with a header that missed the target.
The pair then switched places with another chance in the 83rd minute with Dehmie finding Parkhouse in the box, but the Olympic captain’s shot went straight towards goalkeeper Jack Kenny.
The travellers eventually found an equaliser in the 90th minute with substitute Teng Kuol scoring from point-blank range after the ball was flicked towards him by a defender from a corner kick.
St George City coach Manny Spanoudakis stressed his pride for the effort from his players, particularly given the number of injuries to their senior squad.
“They worked hard. We had a game plan which I think worked, albeit we conceded a very late equaliser. We had a couple very good chances in the first half, including hitting the post, so there are a lot of positives to take out of the game,” he told Football NSW.
“I am disappointed for the boys. It is always hard to cop a goal in the 90th, but all in all there are very positive signs…I think we will get a lot of confidence out of this result.”
Spanoudakis highlighted his belief that the team is in good form with their results not matching their performances, further stating the great work done by the squad with their numerous injuries and especially the youngsters that are coming in.
“We are bringing in a lot of young guys and they are doing really well, so I don’t think we are in bad form. We have had bad results but in every game we have contested and there a lot of positives, and that is what we are going to focus on.”
Olympic coach Labinot Haliti stated his belief that his team deserved something out of the game, commending the players for backing up in what was their third game in the last week.
“I thought we deserved something out of the game. We came up with a point away from home and we will move on,” Haliti told Football NSW
When asked what Olympic did well in the second half, he went on to say.
“Just the intent and the purpose we had when going forward and winning the individual battles…I thought the goal came late but it still came at the right time. That is football.”
Match Stats
St George City FA 1 (Fumoto Kamada 44’)
Sydney Olympic 1 (Teng Kuol 90’)
Saturday, April 12, at Penshurst Park
- Referee: Kelly Jones
- Assistant Referees: Blake Sanchez-Cruz and Liam Smith
- Fourth Official: Mitchell Renton
St George City FA: 1. Jack Kenny, 2. Matthew Wahby (14. Luca Ruegg 79’), 9. Marc McNulty (16. William Kounnas 79’), 10. Paolo Mitry (6. Tarik Ercan 62’), 11. Fumoto Kamada, 15. Nathan Grimaldi, 17. Noah Ovens, 18. Goncalo Agrelos (12. Kai Kamikura 85’) , 19. Jesse Photi, 23. Dakota Askew, 25. Brodie Clarkson
- Substitutes Not Used: 12. Kai Kamikura, 21. Kaisem Mahdi, 32. Mitchy Jomaa
- Yellow Cards: Goncalo Agrelos 12’, Jesse Photi 82’
- Red Cards: Nil
Sydney Olympic: 1. Jack Gibson, 3. Connor O’Toole (28. Doni Grdic 34’), 5. Ziggy Gordon, 7. Michael Vakis (16. Bailey Callaghan 46’), 9. Cyrus Dehmie, 10. Jack Armson, 11. Adam Parkhouse, 12. Zac Zoricich (19. Gianni Di Pizio 88’), 14. Seth Clark, 17. Joshua Hong, 22. Dylan Ruiz-Diaz (18. Teng Kuol 66’)
- Substitutes Not Used: 13. Monty Partington, 19. Gianni Di Pizio
- Yellow Cards: Jack Armson 54’
- Red Cards: Nil
- Player Ratings:
3: Fumoto Kamada (STG)
2: Adam Parkhouse (SO)
1: Teng Kuol (SO)
Source: NPL NSW.
