Goals to Lachlan Scott and Jaushua Sotirio propelled Western Sydney Wanderers to a 2-0 win over Newcastle Jets at Campbelltown Stadium on Sunday.
Scott scored moments before half time to give Wanderers the lead at one of their homes away from home, while Sotirio’s low strike in the 68th minute – which took a deflection off Mateo Poljak – doubled the red and black’s advantage.
The game started brightly with both teams enjoying chances to score in the opening stages of the contest. Scott and Sotirio featured early for the hosts, while Devante Clut pushed the first opportunity of the match for Mark Jones’ team wide of the target.
Wanderers entered a period of dominance thereafter however Jason Hoffman did go close for the Jets in the 34th minute of play when he struck just wide of the target from inside the box.
Clut sent another effort wide for the Jets in the 41st minute, and Wanderers made Newcastle pay soon after when Scott scored his first goal in the Hyundai A-League. Played in by Kearyn Baccus, Scott controlled the ball well before sending a crisp strike from the edge of the area past Jets custodian Jack Duncan.
Newcastle pushed for a leveller in the second stanza however despite strong build-up play the team failed to fashion many clear-cut opportunities to fire past Wanderers shot-stopper Vedran Janjetovic.
Sotirio’s 68th minute goal came after the Jets had been pushing hard to restore parity to the contest – his low strike ricocheting off Poljak before nestling in the back of the net.
Jets boss Jones introduced debutant attacker Harrison Sawyer in favour of Finnish striker Aleksandr Kokko in the 75th minute of play. Sawyer – who scored a hat trick for the Jets Youth team against Sydney FC Youth last week – recently joined the Club from Brisbane Roar’s youth structure.
Unfortunately for the travelling Jets support Sawyer and his teammates couldn’t work their magic in the final 15 minutes of the match and stage a remarkable comeback as they did in round 3 of the campaign when they came from 2-0 down against Wanderers to draw 2-2 at Spotless Stadium.
The result means that Tony Popovic’s team leapfrog the Jets on the Hyundai A-League standings.
Jones’ men will host Melbourne City at C.ex Coffs International Stadium in Coffs Harbour on Friday night. A result would ensure that Jets keep pace with the likes of Perth Glory (5th), Wellington Phoenix (6th) and Western Sydney Wanderers (7th).
Western Sydney Wanderers 2 (Scott 44’, Sotirio 68’)
Newcastle Jets 0
Venue: Campbelltown Stadium, Western Sydney
Referee: Matthew Conger
Newcastle Jets: 3. Jason HOFFMAN, 4. Nigel BOOGAARD (C), 6. Steven UGARKOVIC (28. John KOUTROUMBIS 81’), 8. Mateo POLJAK, 9. Aleksandr KOKKO (12. Harrison SAWYER 75’), 15. Andrew NABBOUT, 16. Nicholas COWBURN, 18. MA Leilei, 20. Jack DUNCAN (Gk), 22. Lachlan JACKSON, 23. Devante CLUT (2. Daniel MULLEN 58’)
Substitutes not used: 211. Labinot HALITI, 50. Tomislav ARCABA (Gk)
Yellow cards: Ugarkovic
Red cards: Nil
Western Sydney Wanderers: 3. Jack CLISBY, (5. Brendan HAMILL 84’) 6. Mitch NICHOLS, 8. DIMAS (C), 10. Nicholas MARTINEZ (14. Jumpei KUSUKAMI 75’), 12. Scott NEVILLE, 15. Kearyn BACCUS, 16. Jaushua SOTIRIO, 18. Robert CORNTHWAITE, 20. Vedran JANJETOVIC (Gk) 22. Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS, 23. Lachlan SCOTT (11. Brendon SANTALAB 69’)
Substitutes not used: 1. Jerrad TYSON (Gk), 24. Terry ANTONIS
Yellow cards: Baccus, Dimas
Red cards: Nil
