The Newcastle Jets Youth Team has defeated league-leaders Sydney FC Youth Team 3-2 this evening at Adamstown Oval. It is the first time that the Sydney youngsters have tasted defeat in the National Youth League competition, and the boys from the Hunter were pushed until the very end to earn the three points.
The Newcastle Jets Youth Team has defeated league-leaders Sydney FC Youth Team 3-2 this evening at Adamstown Oval. It is the first time that the Sydney youngsters have tasted defeat in the National Youth League competition, and the boys from the Hunter were pushed until the very end to earn the three points.
Jets- skipper Taylor Regan opened the scoring in the 5th minute to give the home side a deserved lead. Regan volleyed home a free-kick from 10 yards with a delightful right-footed strike.
The Jets then dominated much of the opening stanza, displaying a fine brand of short-passing football, leaving the Sky Blues with only a handful of half-chances.
All that changed when Sydney-s super-striker Sean Rooney leveled matters after a 39th minute goalmouth scramble. Rooney slotted the ball home at the near post to send the teams into the break locked at 1-1.
The second half began with a bang with Jets marksman Brodie Mooy getting his name on the scoresheet with a sublime volley inside the penalty area. Youngster James Virgilli initiated the attack, pouring down the left touchline before driving his shot into the base of the post. Midfielder Matt Harper picked up the scraps and crossed for Mooy to finish with aplomb.
Substitute Adrian Karakolevski then sealed the points on 82 minutes after turning his man on the edge of the area, before hitting a left-footed strike into the bottom corner.
There was, however, a late scare for the Jets, with Rooney completing his brace with only 2 minutes of regular time remaining. Put through one-on-one with Jets substitute Jordan Griffiths, the Sky Blues- striker made no mistake to keep the healthy crowd on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.
After the game, Coach Craig Deans was naturally delighted with his team-s performance.
“Obviously I-m very happy, not only with the result but the performance the boys put in,” he said. “Sydney have been the benchmark all season and they are very impressive team, so to defeat them in the manner that we did was very pleasing.”
“Our guys worked extremely hard, we finished off our chances and that was the key to today-s victory.”
“All of the players played to their potential today, and we showed that if we do that we can match anyone,” Deans said.
Match Details:
Newcastle Jets Youth Team: Jon GRIFFITHS, Matthew HARPER, Ben MARTIN (Joel WITHERDIN 60-(Brodie MOOY 89-)), Simon MOONEY, Brodie MOOY (Adrian KARAKOLEVSKI 54-), Jesse PINTO, Taylor REGAN, Jarrad ROSS, George STROGYLOS (Jacob PEPPER 54-), James VIRGILLI, Joel WITHERDIN, Justin PASFIELD (gk)(Jordan GRIFFITHS 60-)
Yellow cards: Joel Witherdin 72-, Brodie MOOY 90+4-
Red cards: Nil
Sydney FC Youth Team: Kearyn BACCUS (Anthony MUSUMECI 58-), Zach CAIRNCROSS, Kofi DANNING (Luke AUSTIN 54-), Rhyan GRANT, Ibrahim HAYDAR, Vedran JANJETOVIC (gk), Robbie MILESKI (Ivan PAVLAK 54-), Sam MUNRO, Sean ROONEY, Chris TRIANTIS, Nik TSATTLIOS
Yellow cards: Luke Austin 85-
Red cards: Nil
