It was another slow start that plagued the Newcastle Jets in their top-of-the-table clash, going down to Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium in Round 7.
In a miserable night at the Moore Park precinct, both teams had to deal with almost monsoonal conditions at different stages, but still produced a match fitting of the billed ‘blockbuster’.
It would be Sydney that would open the scoring in the early stages, as Milos Nincovic (5’) got on the end of a pinpoint square ball from BOBÔ, as he took advantage of a Jets’ defence that gave him too much room to move.
The home side would continue the onslaught in the opening exchanges, testing Jets’ custodian Jack Duncan at regular intervals as the young keeper stood tall with some crucial saves.
The Jets would have an early chance through Joe Champness, who was cleverly released down the left by Dimi Petratos, signalling the visitors’ intent to level the score.
The Jets struggled to maintain possession in the first half, but when given an opportunity in the front third, showcased the crisp, short passing game that has seen them net 16 goals so far this season – with Petratos ably directing traffic.
After the break, the heavens opened once more as torrential rain hit Allianz Stadium. The conditions would play their part as the Sky Blues doubled their lead through BOBÔ (59’) as the experienced forward capitalised on a Jack Duncan fumble at the back.
It was a cruel twist of fate for Duncan – who had been exceptional all night – keeping his side in the match for most of the first half with a wonderful display of shot stopping.
Dimi Petratos then took his turn to use the conditions to his advantage, as his shot from long range got past Redmayne at the back – adding another long bomb to his season highlight reel.
The Jets continued to press and looked the better of the sides in the final stages of the match, pushing players forward in search of a result as Champness and Kantarovski missed opportunities to draw level.
For the Jets, the focus turns to Melbourne Victory at home, as well as the fitness of Wayne Brown (calf) and Roy O’Donovan (groin) who were ruled out in the lead up to the Round 7 clash with Sydney.
From the coach:
“I thought Jack had a fantastic game, he made a mistake but I thought he saved some tremendous shots – he improved tonight enormously.”
“We threw away the game in the first half, it looked like we were trying to play safe football – but we showed what we can do in the second half.
“I don’t think there was any disgrace in the game, I was pretty impressed with the way they turned things around in the second half.
“Roy has a minor groin niggle and I think if it was finals football he’d of played, so rather than risk (further injury) we thought it was best to rest him as a precaution
The moments:
1’ | 0 – 0 | We’re off at Allianz Stadium as we look to maintain our place at the top of the #ALeague standings, a tough challenge and a big 90 minutes of football ahead! #SYDvNEW
4’ | 0 – 1 | Nincovic finishes the square ball from Bobo in clinical fashion to take Sydney FC to the lead early #SYDvNEW
8’ | 0 – 1 | CHANCE! Joe Champness in the mix early, with a strong strike that’s well handled by Redmayne – neat work from Petratos to open up Sydney’s left edge #SYDvNEW
28’ | 0 – 1 | CHANCE! Bobo goes close as he strike sails over the crossbar #SYDvNEW
31’ | 0 – 1 | Jack Duncan, take a bow! Back-to-back efforts after a brave dive on a bolting Brosque, he tips the follow-up over the crossbar #SYDvNEW
33’ | 0 – 1 | Duncan AGAIN! Our young custodian making his presence felt as Sydney pepper the Jets’ defence #SYDvNEW
35’ | 0 – 1 | CHANCE! Nabbout has the ball taken off his feet in a desperate effort from the Sydney defence as he almost goes one-on-one with Redmayne #SYDvNEW
40’ | 0 – 1 | CHANCE! Bobo gets a dangerous ball at the far post from Brosque and takes his chance on goal – Duncan again with a crucial save #SYDvNEW
49’ | 0 – 1 | CHANCE! Champness in space, our young attacker sneaks past Retre but doesn’t get his shot away – Redmayne collects the ball cleanly #SYDvNEW
58’ | 0 – 2 | Sydney double their lead as Bobo takes advantage after a Duncan fumble – terrible luck for the keeper, who has been outstanding all night #SYDvNEW
64’ | 1 – 2 | GOAL! Dimi Petratos from long range! #SYDvNEW
64’ | 1 – 2 | Petratos summed things up from a long way out, his powerful strike takes a tough bounce as the conditions played their part in helping beat Redmayne #SYDvNEW
66’ | 1 – 2 | VUJICA! From a long way out, the defender takes a strike that just misses to the right post #SYDvNEW
68’ | 1 – 2 | CHANCE! That was some run from Ugarkovic! His shot goes straight to Redmayne after a run that almost began in his own half and finished on the edge of the 18-yard box #SYDvNEW
77’ | 1 – 2 | CHANCE! Kantarovski goes close after the second phase of the corner, a header from Boogaard sits up nicely but the midfielder’s strike misses the right post #SYDvNEW
Newcastle Jets: 1.Jack DUNCAN (gk), 3.Jason HOFFMAN, 4.Nigel BOOGAARD, 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI, 6.Steven UGARKOVIC, 7.Dimitri PETRATOS, 13.Ivan VUJICA, 15.Andrew NABBOUT, 17.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI, 24.Joe CHAMPNESS, 44.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY
Subs: 16.Nick COWBURN, 18.Johnny KOUTROUMBIS, 22.Lachlan JACKSON, 23.Devante CLUT, 30.Ivan NECEVSKI (gk)
Subs Not Used: 23.Devante CLUT, 30.Ivan NECEVSKI (gk)
Yellow Cards: N/A
Red Cards: N/A
Goals: Dimitri PETRATOS (65’)
Sydney FC: 1.Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 4.Alex WILKINSON, 5.Jordy BUIJS, 6.Josh BRILLANTE, 7.Michael ZULLO, 8.Paulo RETRE, 9.BOBÔ, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 13.Brandon O’NEILL, 14.Alex BROSQUE,17.David CARNEY
Subs: 11.Adrian MIERZEJEWSKI,16.Anthony KALIK, 21.Charles LOKOLINGOY, 22.Seb RYALL, 30.Tom HEWARD-BELLE (gk)
Subs Not Used: 16.Anthony KALIK, 30.Tom HEWARD-BELLE (gk)
Yellow Cards: N/A
Red Cards: N/A
Goals: 10.Milos NINKOVIC (5’), 9.BOBÔ (59’)
