It was a fantastic performance from the young Jets – creating chance after chance, and looking menacing in attack.
However it was ruthlessness which proved the difference in the final third, with Marco Tilio scoring twice from two attempts to condemn the Jets to defeat.
A-LEAGUE: Cowburn goal rescues a point
After a tepid opening ten minutes, the Jets roared into action with a series of chances. Ivan Vujica and Kieran Hayes were looking deadly, with the pair floating in cross after cross to the area.
Just prior to the half-hour mark, the home side had an absolutely golden chance. A Maki Petratos free-kick forced a low save from Sydney ‘keeper Duro Dragicevic, but the ball was fired back into the area.
Two Jets players had a go at turning it in, but some determined Sydney defending kept the ball out and eventually forced a corner.
Five minutes later and against the run of play, the visitors opened the scoring.
The Jets had another fantastic opportunity on the 40-minute mark when the ball came out to Ivan Vujica on the edge of the area, but his blistering shot cannoned back off the crossbar.
The second half got off to an exciting start, with chances at either end in the first five minutes. Jack Simmons flashed a shot across the face of goal, Lewis Italiano pulled off a great save to deny Sydney’s Luke Ivanovic, and Kosta Petratos was denied from close in front.
Nick Cowburn was on free kick duty for the day, and they looked deadly. Just prior to the hour mark, he swung one in which found centre back Jackson Frendo at the back post – a point-blank save denied him.
In the 66th minute, Sydney doubled their advantage. Marco Tilio got in behind and finished under Lewis Italiano for his second of the afternoon.
The Jets continued to push for a pair of levellers in the final 25 minutes, but it wasn’t to be.
Joey O’Connor almost got his foot to one at the back post, and Kent Harrison had a good chance which he sent wide in the dying minutes but it wasn’t Newcastle’s day.
