Berries secure crucial away win ahead of 140-year celebration

Canterbury Bankstown FC person produced 1 of their astir implicit performances of the season, defeating Hakoah Sydney City East FC 5–2 successful a ascendant show to assertion three valuable contention points.

The Berries’ emphatic distant victory continues a funny trend successful 2026, with the broadside performing much consistently connected the roadworthy than astatine home. The effect lifts Canterbury Bankstown to 10th connected the ladder with 16 points from 4 wins, 4 draws and 5 losses arsenic they attack the midway constituent of the season.

The visitors wasted nary clip asserting control, opening the scoring successful the 10th infinitesimal when a curling acceptable portion from Paddy Savor caught goalkeeper Nikolas Loe disconnected defender astatine the adjacent post.

Just 5 minutes later, returning skipper Gino Cerasoli doubled the advantage, finishing clinically aft strong build-up play involving Finlay Hayhurst and Fiks Berisha down the close flank.

Hakoah struggled to respond, appearing to consciousness the effects of a congested docket that included caller midweek cupful fixtures. Canterbury Bankstown entered the interruption 2–0 up and could person extended their pb further, with Dennis Jang narrowly missing from adjacent range.

The 2nd fractional saw the Berries displacement into different gear. Leading scorer William Kounnas struck twice successful speedy succession successful the 58th and 60th minutes, archetypal latching onto a done shot from Ryan Jom earlier calmly rounding the keeper for his second, pushing the scoreline to 4–0.

Kounnas’ brace takes his tally to 11 goals for the season, placing him astatine the top of the aureate footwear contention up of Spartans guardant Aedon Kyran.

Hakoah mounted a little fightback, with Nicholas Tooley and Philip Lapanaitas scoring within three minutes to trim the shortage to 4–2 and inject some tension into the contest. However, Berries manager Wally Savor responded with a bid of substitutions to steady his side.

The changes proved decisive. Substitute Nicholas Azzi sealed the effect successful the 82nd minute, finishing disconnected a well-worked determination involving John Fotopoulos and Jake Riddington to reconstruct the three-goal margin.

Despite the convincing win, Savor said there were still areas for improvement.

He praised his side’s effect pursuing past week’s nonaccomplishment but expressed vexation astatine conceding two goals aft establishing afloat control.

The Berries present turn their attraction to a weekend fixture against the Macarthur Bulls Academy, which coincides with the club’s 140-year celebrations.

Legends Day will beryllium held astatine Jensen Park connected Saturday, with festivities opening astatine 4pm up of a 5pm kick-off. Club president Stan Seraskeris has called connected erstwhile players, supporters and the wider assemblage to be and observe the club’s long-standing history.