The Newcastle Jets have drawn 1-1 tonight with Adelaide United at EnergyAustralia Stadium. The Jets dominated the majority of the Round 13 clash, and indeed led up until the final kick of the game thanks to a Matt Thompson strike.
The Newcastle Jets have drawn 1-1 tonight with Adelaide United at EnergyAustralia Stadium. The Jets dominated the majority of the Round 13 clash, and indeed led up until the final kick of the game thanks to a Matt Thompson strike.
However, Reds defender Sasa Ognenovski scored with virtually the final action to claim a point for the visitors after he rose to meet an injury time free-kick and head home an extraordinary equaliser.
With the ball lofted into the area, the otherwise impressive Ante Covic came off his line and slipped, allowing Ognenovski to head home to make the final score 1-1.
Utility player Matt Thompson had a wonderful game for the home side, and gave the defending Hyundai A-League Champions the lead in the 56th minute with a powerful low drive after good lead up work from Jason Naidovski.
Both teams set out their stall in rather cautious fashion, with the opening stanza somewhat lacking in goalmouth action. Neither goalkeeper was particularly tested in a period predominately bogged down in the midfield.
Just before the break, youngsters James Holland and Marko Jesic both had great chances to open the scoring, but were let down with their final touch. The team went in to the sheds level but the Jets ended the half on the brink of breaking the deadlock.
On 56 minutes Thompson would do just that, after an error from Reds defender Angelo Costanzo lost the ball deep inside his own half, allowing young striker Naidovski to square the ball to an unmarked Thompson. The dynamic utility then finished inside Eugene Galekovic-s near post, giving the home side a deserved lead.
It was all hands to the pump then for the AFC Champions League finalists as Adelaide pushed everyone forward in the dying moments of the game to claim the equaliser.
Danish import almost made the Reds pay though, as he stole in behind their defence to go one-on-one with Galekovic. The diminutive midfielder, however, sprayed his shot high and wide when it seemed that he would wrap up the points for the Jets.
In a moment of heartbreak for the home faithful, Ognenovski then swooped onto the injury time free-kick to give the visitors a share of the spoils. It was a dagger to the heart of the Jets players in a season where they have worked hard without great reward.
After the game, Jets Assistant Coach Mark Jones believed his team deserved all three points.
“I thought we did more than enough to win the game, but I guess you could say that if we took our opportunities then we wouldn-t be in a position to concede a goal.”
“The performance was magnificent in terms of work ethic, we worked harder than Adelaide. I thought we outrun and outworked them, and created enough opportunities to win the game, so it-s extremely disappointing that we didn-t win,” Jones said.
Match Details:
Newcastle Jets Squad. 1.Ante COVIC (gk), 2.Adam GRIFFITHS, 3.Jade NORTH (c) (6.Jesper HAKANSSON 77-), 5.James HOLLAND, 8.Matt THOMPSON, 11.Tarek ELRICH, 12.Jobe WHEELHOUSE (14.Shaun ONTONG 93-), 13.Adam D-APUZZO, 16.Ben KANTAROVSKI,19.Jason NAIDOVSKI, 24.Marko JESIC
Unused substitutes: 17.Antun KOVACIC, 20.Ben KENNEDY (gk)
Yellow cards: Jason Naidovski 15-
Red cards: Nil
Adelaide United Squad. 20.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 3.ALEMAO (21.Jason SPAGNUOLO 74-), 4.Angelo COSTANZO, 8.Kristian SARKIES, 13.Travis DODD (c), 14.Scott JAMIESON, 16.Daniel MULLEN (15.Jonas SALLEY 84-), 18.Fabian BARBIERO, 19.Sasa OGNENOVSKI, 22.DIEGO (10.CRISTIANO 74-), 24.Paul REID
Unused substitutes: 30.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk)
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil
Newcastle Jets: 1 (Thompson 56-)
Adelaide United: 1 (Ognenovski 90+4-)
Crowd: 7136
Referee: Chris Beath
