St George City crowned 2022 League One Champions
St George City came from behind to win the League One Championship after an enthralling contest against the Central Coast Mariners 2-1 at the Sydney United Sports Centre on Saturday.
Central Coast Mariners took the lead in the match through a Harry McCarthy goal before Troy Danaskos and Damian German found the net for the visitors.
Both teams lined up in similar fashion as their game two weeks ago with the only notable change coming from City with Jordan Morfitis stepping in for Paolo Mitry.
As such, the Mariners found joy in pressing their opposition throughout the first half, taking the ascendency, and not letting go.
Their first shot of the game coming in the 20th minute as Dor Jok squared it to Lachlan Bayliss whose effort was blocked on its way towards goal.
But unlike the opening quarter of the match, the chances then seemed to flow from there onwards. Their goal coming two minutes later on 22 minutes with Harry McCarthyyyyy opening the scoring. Jackson Khoury with the ball across to McCarthy who had plenty of room at the back post to finish.
The Mariners chances continued to flow from there with a couple of chances back to back on the half hour, Jackson Khoury with the first cutting in off the left, before Joshua Hong forced a reaction stop from Mackenzie Syron.
With the Mariners concluding their first half onslaught with five minutes left, Bayliss with another effort with only the crossbar denying them the crucial two goal lead.
St George City needed to react after a disappointing first half and half time tactical chance made sure the game opened up at either end. With Alexander Malfara and Paolo Mitry both having early chances from outside the area early in the second half.
While Joshua Hong had an early second half chance at the other end.
But it was now City applying the pressure now and Damian German went the closest of anyone in the City team after coming on. Hitting the side netting with his shot after entering the box from the left.
In fact, you could have sworn we were watching a different team to the one in the first half, with the game turning on it’s head after the break. Though the Mariners were still threatening on their excursions forward.
Dor Jok then had a chance to put the Mariners two in front with a chance on the break. Jok sending a lobbed effort tantalizingly wide of the right post.
It was City to get their equalizer after applying the second half pressure, Troy Danaskos getting a foot in to poke it home after Damian German got a touch in the buildup in the 81st minute. Saracino with the cross in from the left.
City then had a chance in injury time, Paolo Mitry hitting the base of the left hand post with a low fizzing effort.
And like the game a fortnight ago, City then took the lead through Damian German, the lively wide man popping up to bundle home a finish from close range to give them the lead.
Mariners then had to somehow bring themselves back into it and Ben Duncan went close with a sharp effort from inside the area after the ball came in from the left on 114 minutes.
However, it was St George City to emerge as champions coming from behind for the third time this season against the Mariners. And in the process capping off their stay in the second tier with another championship having won both the third and fourth tier previously.
Speaking after the game, victorious coach Mirko Jurilj told FNSW. “We were good, it was a game of two halves, we were nervous in the first half, fortunate to be in the game.”
“The boys found some energy in the second half and created some really good chances, psychologically we’ve had the advantage this season having come from behind three times this season.”
“We are a different side to last year, everyone has contributed after we lost some key players last season but everyone has dug deep and found something.”
On the Mariners, Jurilj said. “They’re a good team, they have got boys there with a good future. My hat off to them, there are doing all the right things and I have nothing but praise for them.”
Match Stats
St George City: 2 (Danaskos 81‘, German 100‘)
Central Coast Mariners FC: 1 (McCarthy 22‘)
Referee: Sam Kelly
Assistant Referees: Matt Staples, Bradley Merchant
Fourth Official: Danny Horstead
St George City: 1. Mackenzie Syron, 3. Troy Danaskos, 5. Nicholas Kalogerou, 6. Tarik Ercan, 7. Nathan Roberts (20. Damian German), 8. Alexander Malfara (17. Joshua Keremelevski), 11. Jordan Morfitis (14. Antonio Saracino), 15. Reuben Awaritefe (9. Mark Moric), 16. Jakub Prajza, 18. Alexander Kyriacou, 24. Matthew Keremelevski (10. Paolo Mitry).
Subs not used: 13. Evan Davis
Central Coast Mariners FC: 1. Marko Bulic, 2. Sasha Kuzevski (15. Jordan Segreto), 4. Dean Larson, 5. Jakob Cresnar, 6. Bradley Tapp (3. Joshua Hong), 8. Lachlan Bayliss, 9. Dor Jok (27. Ben Duncan), 10. Harry McCarthy (7. Nicholas Duarte), 11. Jackson Khoury (13. Stefan Nikolic), 21. Maksim Kasalovic, 22. Cameron Windust
Subs not used: 20. Alexander Parkes
Final note: And so concludes our League One Men’s season, it’s been a pleasure writing about the game I love on a week to week basis. Big thanks to everyone who has read each preview/review throughout the season. Congratulations to our top four sides and big thanks to all the people at every club who contribute to the game we loved.
FNSW League One Men’s U20’s result: Western Sydney Wanderers FC: 5 (G Di Pizio 26′ 71′, M Di Pizio 53′, Malbasa 77′, Gulasi 90′) v Central Coast Mariners FC: 1 (Waddell 45′)
By League One Men’s Writer Justin Smith
