The Western Sydney Wanderers remain top of the NPL 2 ladder after a gritty 2-2 draw against St George on Saturday night.
The Red & Black opened the scoring through Kyle Cimenti late in the first half before goals either side of the break from St George saw the home side turn the tables.
Cimenti’s second of the evening with just minutes remaining rescued a deserved point for Trevor Morgan’s side and ensures that the Wanderers remain top of the league for another week.
Clear-cut chances were few and far between in what was a physical match on a bumpy St George Stadium pitch.
Matthew Symes did well to palm away an early St George chance as neither side was able to grab the ascendancy.
The game sparked to life when Cimenti broke the deadlock with the opening goal of the game, the striker racing onto a ball in behind the St George defence, nodding it past the onrushing keeper and slotting home into an empty net.
Just as the Wanderers looked to be heading into the sheds with the advantage, Dimitrios Zakilas found an equaliser for St George after the Wanderers failed to clear their lines from a set-piece.
After the break, the Wanderers began to enjoy the bulk of possession but the home side were beginning to lift, testing Symes in goals on a couple of occasions.
St George’s persistence would soon pay off, with Zakilas prodding home for his second of the match with a little over 10 minutes remaining.
The Wanderers continued to spray the ball well, Keanu Baccus in particular providing real impetus in the centre of the park.
As full time approached, Cimenti popped up in the six yard box to find a deserved equaliser for the Red & Black.
The Wanderers continued to push for a late winner, Ramy Najjarine coming close after a mazy run but the match would end with both sides walking away with a point.
The result keeps the Wanderers at the summit of the table ahead of next Saturday’s home fixture against the Macathur Rams.
St George FC 2 (Dimitrios Zakilas 45+2’, 79’)
Western Sydney Wanderers 2 (Kyle Cimenti 37’ 85’)
Western Sydney Wanderers: Matthew Symes (GK), Tate Russell, Abdelrahman Kuku, Keanu Baccus, Daniel Blachura, Cameron Devlin, Lawrence Hanna (Ramy Najjarine), Lachlan Campbell, Tariq Maia, Jordan Morfitis (Moudi Najjar), Kyle Cimenti
Unused subs: Daniel Axford (GK), Solomon Monahan-Vaika, Benjamin Morrison
Other results:
20s: St George 0-3 WSW
18s: St George 1-2 WSW
16s: Mt Druitt 2-0 WSW
15s: Mt Druitt 6-1 WSW
14s: Mt Druitt 2-1 WSW
13s: Fixture postponed
