The Newcastle Jets and Adelaide United have played out a 0-0 stalemate in Round 2 of the Pre-Season Cup at Cessnock this evening.
The Newcastle Jets have played out a 0-0 draw with Adelaide United in Round 2 of the 2008 Pre-Season Cup at a chilly Baddeley Park in Cessnock this evening.
The game burst into life after only 17 seconds when Adelaide-s Travis Dodd hit the support post with a blistering shot from the edge of the penalty area.
The remainder of the first half proved an open affair, with neither team able to capitalise and provide the final ball. Adelaide pressed hard for the opening goal throughout the half as chances from distance fell to Cassio and once more to Dodd.
Arguably the Jets- best chance of the game fell to Korean import, Jin-Hyung Song, on 52 minutes. The diminutive number 10 was played in by Jets- new recruit Kaz Patafta, however Song-s shot was saved well by Adelaide goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic.
The Jets had the better of the second half, dominating possession and taking control of the tempo with their short passing game. Right-back, Tarek Elrich, looked dangerous but was off target with two strikes from distance in the second half, and youngster Ben Kantarovski went close to scoring after getting a foot onto a low Jobe Wheelhouse drive at goal. At full stretch, Kantarovski-s touch was pushed just wide.
The game would end in stalemate, however, with the threadbare Jets squad having nothing to show for their dominance.
Gary Van Egmond was pleased with the effort of his team, and at the conclusion of the game praised the 13-man squad for their endeavour.
“It was a good hit out for us,” said Van Egmond. “I thought possession-wise we were the better of the teams. We just need to have a bit more silk in the final third.”
“I am very happy with the team-s work ethic and their performance overall,” Van Egmond concluded.
Newcastle Jets
1 Ante Covic, 2 Adam Griffiths, 7 Kaz Patafta (19 Jason Naidovski 85-), 8 Matt Thompson, 10 Jin Hyung Song, 11 Tarek Elrich, 12 Jobe Wheelhouse, 13 Adam D-Apuzzo, 15 Jason Hoffman, 16 Ben Kantarovski 17 Antun Kovacic
Unused substitute: 20 Ben Kennedy
Adelaide United
20 Eugene Galekovic, 3 Alamao, 4 Angelo Costanzo, 6 Cassio
7 Lucas Pantelis (18 Fabian Barbiero 78-), 10 Cristiano, 13 Travis Dodd, 14 Scott Jamieson (21 Jason Spagnuolo 45-), 16 Daniel Mullen (2 Robbie Cornthwaite 75-), 19 Sasa Ognenovski
Unused substitute: 22 Mark Birighitti
Newcastle Jets 0
Adelaide United 0
Crowd: 2756
Referee: James Lewis
