Our History in Asia

The Newcastle Jets have previously played in the AFC Champions League twice, in 2009 and 2019.

2009

Off the back of the Club’s 2008 Grand Final victory over the Central Coast Mariners, the Club qualified for the 2009 edition of the AFC Champions League (now AFC Champions League Elite).

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 24: The Jets celebrate after winning the A-League Grand Final match between the Central Coast Mariners and the Newcastle Jets at the Sydney Football Stadium on February 24, 2008 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

The group stage draw followed on January 7th 2009, with the Club drawn against Beijing Guoan of China, Ulsan Hyundai of South Korea and Nagoya Grampus of Japan.

Match Day One:

Jets Lineup: 1. Ante Covic (GK), 2. Tarek Elrich, 3. Adam D’Apuzzo, 4. Nikolai Topor-Stanley, 5. Ljubo Milicevic, 6. Ben Kantarovski, 8. Matthew Thompson (C), 9. Sasho Petrovski, 10. Donny De Groot, 17. Fabio Vignaroli, 25. Adam Griffiths SUBS: 12. Jobe Wheelhouse, 14. Angelo Costanzo, 20. Ben Kennedy (GK), 23. Sean Rooney, 24. Kaz Patafta, 28. Brodie Mooy

Our first Asian campaign opened with a trip to the Chinese capital, as we played Beijing Guoan on the 10th of March 2009 in front of a crowd of 30,000+ fans. Club legends Joel and Ryan Griffiths lined up for the Chinese side, whilst brother Adam Griffiths was a part of the Jets team.

BEIJING – MARCH 10: Ryan Alan Griffiths of Beijing Guoan reacts after he scored during the AFC Champions League Group E match between Beijing Guoan and the Newcastle Jets at Beijing Worker’s Stadium on March 10, 2009 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Guang Niu/Getty Images)

Ryan Griffiths opened the scoring in the 7th minute, finding a sliver of space on the 6-yard box to poke home Wang Chanqging’s cut-back. Beijing continued to push, with Chanqging in particular threatening the left-side of the defence. Beijing put the nail in the coffin in the 93rd minute, with Joel Griffiths winning the ball high up the pitch before playing in Du Wenhui, who placed his effort into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

BEIJING – MARCH 10: Newcastle Jets coach Gary Van Egmond during the AFC Champions League Group E match between Beijing Guoan and the Newcastle Jets at Beijing Worker’s Stadium on March 10, 2009 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Guang Niu/Getty Images)

Match Day Two:

Jets Lineup: 1. Ante Covic (GK), 2. Tarek Elrich, 3. Adam D’Apuzzo, 4. Nikolai Topor-Stanley, 5. Ljubo Milicevic, 6. Ben Kantarovski, 8. Matthew Thompson (C), 9. Sasho Petrovski, 10. Donny De Groot, 17. Fabio Vignaroli, 25. Adam Griffiths SUBS: 11. Marko Jesic, 12. Jobe Wheelhouse, 14. Angelo Costanzo, 20. Ben Kennedy (GK), 24. Kaz Patafta, 26. Nikolas Tsattalios, 28. Brodie Mooy

The Club returned home, as they hosted Korean powerhouse Ulsan Hyundai in Newcastle. Sasho Petrovski put Ulsan to the sword as he bagged a double.

NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 17: The Newcastle Jets line up before the AFC Champions League Group E match between the Newcastle Jets and Ulsan Hyundai at EnergyAustralia Stadium on March 17, 2009 in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Petrovski opened the scoring 15 minutes in. Topor-Stanley headed a long ball down into the box, with Milicevic hooking the ball into the path of Petrovski who smashed the ball into the net from close range. His second came in the 43rd minute, as he nodded home a free-kick from Vignaroli.

NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 17: Sasho Petrovski (L) of the Jets celebrates with Ljubo Milicevic (C) and team mates after scoring the first goal during the AFC Champions League Group E match between the Newcastle Jets and Ulsan Hyundai at EnergyAustralia Stadium on March 17, 2009 in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Match Day Three:

Jets Lineup: 2. Tarek Elrich, 3. Adam D’Apuzzo, 4. Nikolai Topor-Stanley, 5. Ljubo Milicevic, 6. Ben Kantarovski, 8. Matthew Thompson (C), 9. Sasho Petrovski, 10. Donny De Groot, 11. Marko Jesic, 20. Ben Kennedy (GK), 25. Adam Griffiths SUBS: 12. Jobe Wheelhouse, 14. Angelo Costanzo, 21. Joel Wood, 24. Kaz Patafta, 28. Brodie Mooy, 30. Ben McNamara (GK)

The next trip saw the Club head to Japan to play Nagoya Grampus. Tarek Elrich opened the scoring just nine minutes in, squeezing in a rebounded Marko Jesic strike. The Club had several chances to extend their lead, as Elrich scuffed a shot in front of goal, while an Adam Griffiths shot from distance bounced just wide of the post. Keiji Tamada found an equaliser for Nagoya in the second half, with his free-kick leaving Kennedy rooted to the spot as it sailed into the top corner.

NAGOYA, JAPAN – APRIL 07: Tarek Elrich of Newcastle Jets celebrates after scoring during the AFC Champions League Group E match between Nagoya Grampus Eight and the Newcastle Jets at Mizuho Athletics Stadium on April 7, 2009 in Nagoya, Japan. (Photo by Junko Kimura/Getty Images)

Match Day Four:

Jets Lineup:

2. Tarek Elrich, 4. Nikolai Topor-Stanley, 6. Ben Kantarovski, 8. Matthew Thompson (C), 10. Danny De Groot, 14. Angelo Costanzo, 16. Jason Hoffman, 17. Fabio Vignaroli, 20. Ben Kennedy (GK), 25. Adam Griffiths, 28. Brodie Mooy SUBS: 9. Sasho Petrovski, 18. Peter Haynes, 22. Mitchell Johnson. 23. Sean Rooney, 24. Kaz Patafta, 26. Nikolas Tsattalios, 30. Ben McNamara (GK)

The return fixture against Nagoya saw the Japanese giants take a 1-0 win back home. A tight first half saw both clubs spur chances to open the scoring, as they went into the break at 0-0. Ogawa scored the only goal of the game in the second half, finishing past Ben Kennedy from close range.

NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 22: Yoshizumi Ogawa of Grampus contests the ball with Nikolai Topor-Stanley of the Jets during the AFC Champions League Group E match between the Newcastle Jets and Nagoya Grampus at EnergyAustralia Stadium on April 22, 2009 in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Match Day Five:

Jets Lineup: 2. Tarek Elrich, 3. Adam D’Apuzzo, 4. Nikolai Topor-Stanley, 5. Ljubo Milicevic, 8. Matt Thompson (C), 9. Sasho Petrovski, 10. Donny De Groot, 12. Jobe Wheelhouse, 16. Jason Hoffman, 20. Ben Kennedy (GK), 25. Adam Griffiths SUBS: 14. Angelo Costanzo, 18. Peter Haynes, 21. Joel Wood, 23. Sean Rooney, 24. Kaz Patafta, 28. Brodie Mooy, 30. Ben McNamara (GK)

The Club produced a stunning late comeback to claim revenge against Beijing, having been defeated in the away leg on match day one. Ryan Griffiths notched the first goal of the game for the visitors mid-way through the second half, bursting into a gap before expertly placing his shot into the back of the net. Petrovski equalised in the 88th minute, sneaking to the back post to finish off Elrich’s cross. Just as the game seemed destined to remain a draw, Sean Rooney stepped up to the plate with a stunning strike from distance. Rooney latched onto the ball, curling it into the top corner from outside the box to secure a famous win for Newcastle.

NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA – MAY 06: Sean Rooney of the Jets celebrates scoring a goal during the AFC Champions League Group match between the Newcastle Jets and the Beijing Guoan at EnergyAustralia Stadium on May 6, 2009 in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Match Day Six:

Jets Lineup: 2. Tarek Elrich, 3. Adam D’Apuzzo, 4. Nikolai Topor-Stanley, 5. Ljubo Milicevic, 6. Ben Kantarovski, 8. Matthew Thompson, 9. Sasho Petrovski, 12. Jobe Wheelhouse, 16. Jason Hoffman, 17. Fabio Vignaroli, 20. Ben Kennedy (GK) SUBS: 14. Angelo Costanzo, 18. Peter Haynes, 21. Joel Wood, 24. Kaz Patafta, 26. Nick Tsattalios, 28. Brodie Mooy, 30. Ben McNamara

The Club secured their spot in the Round of 16 with a 1-0 win away to Ulsan Hyundai. Club icon Jason Hoffman scored his first of 17 goals for the Club to secure the win, as he flicked a pin-point Vignaroli cross into the far corner.

ULSAN, SOUTH KOREA – MAY 20: Newcastle Jets team members leave the field after the AFC Champions League Group E match between the Ulsan Hyundai and the Newcastle Jets at Ulsan World Cup Stadium on May 20, 2009 in Ulsan, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

Round of 16:

Jets Lineup: 2. Tarek Elrich, 3. Adam D’Apuzzo, 6. Ben Kantarovski, 7. Jin-hyung Song, 8. Matthew Thompson (C), 9. Sasho Petrovski, 12. Jobe Wheelhouse, 14. Angelo Costanzo, 16. Jason Hoffman, 17. Fabio Vignaroli, 20. Ben Kennedy (GK) SUBS: 10. Donny De Groot, 13. Shaun Ontong, 23. Sean Rooney, 24. Kaz Patafta, 28. Brodie Mooy, 30. Ben McNamara

The Club were knocked out of their first Asian Champions League campaign in brutal fashion, being smashed 6-0 away to eventual champions Pohang Steelers. Hyo-Jin Choi scored a hat-trick, whilst Denilson, Jae-Sung Kim and Ristić grabbed one each.

POHANG, SOUTH KOREA – JUNE 24: Jobe Wheelhouse of Newcastle Jets leaves after the AFC Champions League match between the Newcastle Jets and the Pohang Steelers at Pohang Steelyard on June 24, 2009 in Pohang, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

2019

The Jets qualified for the Preliminary qualifying round for the 2019 Asian Champions League as a result of coming second in the 2017-18 A-League Regular Season.

NEWCASTLE, NEW SOUTH WALES – MAY 05: The Jets pose for a team photo before the 2018 A-League Grand Final match between the Newcastle Jets and the Melbourne Victory at McDonald Jones Stadium on May 5, 2018 in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Preliminary Qualifier:

The Club kicked off their campaign at home, being drawn against the reigning Indonesian champions, Persija Jakarta.

Jets Lineup: 1. Glen Moss (GK), 4. Nigel Boogaard (c), 5. Ben Kantarovski, 6. Steven Ugarkovic, 7. Dimitri Petratos, 9. Roy O’Donovan, 10. Ronald Vargas, 14. Kaine Sheppard, 17. Daniel Georgevski, 18. Johnny Koutroumbis, 44. Nikolai Topor-Stanley SUBS: 13. Ivan Vujica, 16. Nick Cowburn, 19. Kosta Petratos, 20. Lewis Italiano (GK), 22. Lachlan Jackson, 23. Matthew Ridenton, 32. Angus Thurgate

Ronald Vargas opened the scoring in the 49th minute, finishing off a square pass from Roy O’Donovan. Jakarta equalised in the 72nd minute when Rizki Ramdani Lestaluhu scored a long-range header off a corner kick. 1-1 at full-time, sending the game to extra-time. Captain Nigel Boogaard found the go-ahead goal in the 101st minute, finishing Ben Kantarovski’s flicked header with his left foot. Matthew Ridenton put the icing on the cake right on full-time, heading home to secure a 3-1 win and passage to the play-off round against Kashima Antlers.

NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 12: Andritany Ardhiyasa of Persija Jakarta contests the ball with Nigel Boogaard of the Newcastle Jets during the AFC Champions League Second Round Preliminary Stage match between the Newcastle Jets and Persija Jakarta at McDonald Jones Stadium on February 12, 2019 in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)

Play-Off Round:

Jets Lineup: 1. Glen Moss (GK), 4. Nigel Boogaard (C), 5. Ben Kantarovski, 7. Dimitri Petratos, 8. Ronald Vargas, 9. Roy O’Donovan, 16. Steven Ugarkovic, 17. Daniel Georgievski, 18. Johnny Koutroumbis, 23. Matthew Ridenton, 44. Nikolai Topor-Stanley SUBS: 13. Ivan Vujica, 14. Kaine Sheppard, 16. Nicholas Cowburn, 20. Lewis Italiano (GK) 22. Lachlan Jackson, 24. Joey Champness, 32. Angus Thurgate

Sho Ito opened the scoring for Kashima, reacting quickest to a rebound after Glen Moss tipped Serginho’s backheeled effort onto the post. Ronald Vargas equalised six minutes later, after Vargas’s heavily deflected shot wrong-footed the Kashima goalkeeper. Shuto Yamamoto put Kashima ahead in the 32nd minute, ghosting into the back post to nod the ball past Glen Moss. Leo Silva won a penalty in the 67th minute, with Serginho converting to make it 3-1. Serginho put the game to bed in the 91st minute, tapping in at the back post to seal the Club’s fate, knocking them out of the Asian Champions League in the qualifiers.