The Newcastle Jets have fallen to Perth Glory tonight at HBF Park, as the home side secured their position on top of the league for the 2018/19 season.
It was a tight tussle across the 90 minutes, with the Glory snaring a 1-0 victory.
There were a few half chances for both sides in the opening exchanges, with Roy O’Donovan getting in behind the Glory defence after a great ball long ball from Ivan Vujica – only to be ruled offside.
He followed that up just minutes later with a wonderful volleyed effort from 40 yards out, as he attempted to catch Liam Reddy off his line with the cross bar the only thing between the Irishman and a Goal of the Season contender.
After some sustained possession in the Glory’s half the Jets thought they had the opening goal, as a wicked low cross into the area from Ivan Vujica found O’Donovan at point blank range – only for the VAR to find the most marginal of offsides.
The VAR had Jets fans holding their breath at the 20-minute mark, as a penalty shout for Joel Chianese was looked at in great detail but ultimately waived away.
Ivan Vujica and Joe Champness combined well moving forward on the left edge, finding space and creating opportunities with Champness getting goal-bound on two occasions but unable to take his chances.
The Glory had chances of their own, with Boogaard and Topor-Stanley doing plenty to contain the likes of Keogh and Castro with some desperate defending on display.
Keogh had the home sides best chance of the evening just before the break. A nice interchange of passing opened up space at the top of the area, his strong strike could only find the crossbar and the Jets were able to clear the danger.
Things continued to run end-to-end until the conclusion of the opening half, as the teams went to sheds all square.
Glen Moss opened the second half with two important saves, getting started with a spectacular diving effort to deny Davidson before a reflex effort to stop a Castro strike.
Just beyond the hour-mark the Glory found the back of the net on two occasions, only to be ruled offside by the Assistant Referee.
Ivan Franjic would eventually get the home side on the board, after being played expertly in behind by Diego Castro and coolly finishing past Glen Moss.
The momentum then shifted the way of the Jets, with O’Donovan denied by Reddy off a corner kick, while Kantarovski also went close with a headed effort.
Despite some late opportunities, the Jets were unable to stop a rampaging Glory on their way to securing the Premiers Plate.
