A thrilling 1-all draw between the Newcastle Jets and the A-League’s top team Brisbane lit up EnergyAustralia Stadium tonight as the club continued its Festival of Football celebrations.
A thrilling 1-all draw between the Newcastle Jets and the A-League-s top team Brisbane lit up EnergyAustralia Stadium tonight as the club continued its Festival of Football celebrations.
A week after signing a new three-year deal with the club Ben Kantarovski helped the Jets to a 1-0 lead early in the second half and it appeared as if the Jets were on their way to a deserved victory.
But a resilient Roar side resisted a barrage of Jets attacks throughout the match only to net a goal of their own to level the scores ten minutes from full time.
A vocal home crowd of 7829 held their collective breaths as Ruben Zadkovich fired in a shot in the 88th minute only for it to hit the right upright and deny the Jets the win.
The Jets were desperately unlucky not to secure the win with numerous first-half chances going to waste and the Roar-s only goal subject to a dubious ruling from the sideline official.
Goal-scorer Jean Carlos Solorzano appeared to be offside on his way to goal but to the home fans- dismay the penalty was not forthcoming.
The first 15 minutes of the match saw a Kasey Wehrman through ball almost converted by Marko Jesic and an Ali Abbas shot was deflected by Roar goal-keeper Michael Theoklitos.
Theoklitos copped further missiles in the form of a Ben Kantarovski right foot strike which came achingly close to finding the top right of the net if not for his terrific save.
Undoubtedly the Jets- best chance at a first half score was Francis Jeffers- effort to put pressure on a shaky clearance attempt by Theoklitos. Jeffers managed to block the clearance but the all-important deflection bounced away from the goal-face and not across the line for his much anticipated maiden goal in Jets colours.
Jeffers was at it again in the 41st minute, firing in a long-range shot that went just wide of the left upright to round out an exciting half of football.
The second-half started much as it did the first for the Jets – numerous chances on goal – but it was Kantarovski who provided the finishing touch from a Wehrman corner to finally put the Jets ahead.
Jeffers and Wehrman put in outstanding performances on the night, with Wehrman picking up man of the match honours while Jeffers built on his strong debut performance in the side-s 3-1 win against Adelaide last Saturday.
Tonight-s draw sets up this Saturday-s clash against Wellington – a side featuring several former Jets players – and the much anticipated F3 Derby clash against Central Coast next Wednesday.
The matches form part of the Jets- ‘Festival of Football- – five home games in 12 days – culminating in the Qantas Challenge against the LA Galaxy on November 27.
Jets fans are reminded to pick up a $10 ticket to the match – available at the Jets website www.newcastlejets.com.au or www.proticket.com.au
And don-t forget to pick up your Qantas Challenge ticket to see the Jets play the LA Galaxy side featuring star players Landon Donovan and David Beckham.
CAUTIONS – YELLOW CARDS
Zadkovich 59th min
Milicevic 64th min
SUBS
Jeffers for Haliti 68th minute
NEWCASTLE JETS FC 1 (Kantarovski 53rd min) drew BRISBANE ROAR FC 1 (Jean Carlos Solorzano 80th minute)
NEWCASTLE JETS UPCOMING GAMES
EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle
Saturday, 20 November v Wellington Phoenix FC, 7pm
Wednesday 24 November v Central Coast Mariners, 7pm
Saturday 27 November v LA Galaxy (Qantas Challenge), 7.30pm
