Newcastle Jets Youth has been defeated 2-1 by Melbourne Victory Youth in an action packed National Youth League 2009/10 fixture at EnergyAustralia Stadium this afternoon.
Newcastle Jets Youth has been defeated 2-1 by Melbourne Victory Youth in an action packed National Youth League 2009/10 fixture at EnergyAustralia Stadium this afternoon.
Despite Jason Naidovski getting the Jets back into the match with a clinical finish in the 70th minute, Newcastle couldn-t manage to restore parity as two first half goals secured Melbourne all three points.
Defender Matthew Foschini opened the scoring for Victory in the 14th minute with a scrappy finish from a set-piece, while Melbourne captain Aziz Behich won and converted a 29th minute penalty to extend the Victorians lead.
The match was played at a high tempo throughout with both teams enjoying spells dominating the game.
In the 17th minute Jets skipper Taylor Regan forced Melbourne keeper into his first save of the match with a strong low drive direct from a free kick.
Enjoying a number of attacking raids, the young Jets again went close to equalising in the 21st and 26th minutes when Jason Naidovski forced another save from Mattei, and Damien Brosque hit the roof of the net with a sharp shot from 25-yards.
Melbourne would go two ahead on 29 minutes however, as Behich beat two defenders before marauding into the box. Jarrad Ross brought the crafty midfielder down, with Jets custodian Dion Shaw unable to stop the resultant penalty despite getting a palm on the strong strike.
Just prior to halftime, Qantas Young Socceroo James Virgili worked his way into the box, but let Mattei off the hook by blazing over from 15-yards.
After the break Newcastle coach Craig Deans was forced into a substitution with Jesse Pinto replacing the injured Brodie Mooy.
With half an hour to go, Deans made a double swap in a deliberate move to ignite his attack, calling on the services of Matt Sim and Mirjan Pavlovic in favour of Brosque and Virgili.
The move almost paid instantaneous dividends, with Pavlovic heading just wide of Mattei-s left post just five minutes just five minutes after his entry.
Naidovski would beat the impressive Mattei not long after and despite strong efforts from Scott Balderson, Jason Hoffman and Pavlovic in 72nd, 79th and 91st minutes respectively, the Jets couldn-t breach the Victory goal a second time to claim a competition point from the match.
Match Details:
Newcastle Jets Youth Team: 1. Dion SHAW (gk), 2. Jarrad ROSS, 3. Matt SIM, 4. Umut TOKDOGAN, 5. Scott BALDERSON, 6. Taylor REGAN (c), 7. Damian BROSQUE (13. Matt SIM 58-), 8. Brodie MOOY (12. Jesse PINTO 50-), 9. Jason NAIDOVSKI, 10. Jason HOFFMAN, 11. James VIRGILI (14. Mirjan PAVLOVIC 58-)
Unused substitutes: 20. Neil YOUNG (gk)
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil
Melbourne Victory Youth Team: 1. Sebastian MATTEI (gk), 2. Matthew FOSCHINI, 3. Bradley NORTON, 4. Peter FRANJIC, 6. Matthew THEODORE (5. Diogo FERREIRA 46-), 7. Aziz BEHICH (c), 8. Stephen HATZIKOSTAS, 9. Matthew DEMO, 10. Kliment TASESKI, 11. Antonio LA VERDE (12. Simon TOLLI 60-), 14. Craig SWEENEY,
Unused substitutes: 20. Stefaan SARDELIC (gk)
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil
Newcastle Jets Youth Team: 1 (Naidovski 70-)
Melbourne Victory Youth Team: 2 (Foschini 14-, Behich 29- (pen))
Referee: Tim McGilchrist
