After a disappointing result in our first Liberty A-League clash, our Women return to Newcastle eager to collect three points against a brand new Wellington team.
Wellington are coming off the back of their first ever A-League Women’s match where they picked up a point against the Wanderers, while our Jets went down to a clinical Sydney side.
This Friday will be the first time these two sides have ever faced off, and the first time in almost 12 months that our women have played at McDonald Jones Stadium.
It will also be the first that local Matildas star, Emily van Egmond will run out for the Jets since 2018.
While the result didn’t go in our favour last weekend, there’s still plenty of reason to be excited for our first home Double Header.
NEWCASTLE JETS V WELLINGTON PHOENIX
Date: Friday 10 December 2021
Kick-off: 5:05pm
Kick-off: 4:00pm
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium
Tickets: SECURE YOUR TICKETS
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Never played before
FIRST TIME EVER
History will be made this Friday evening as our Jets meet the female Wellington Phoenix for the first time ever.
Phoenix were admitted into the competition this season and have already been able to pick up a point with their brand new squad.
There’s been a few occasions already when new teams have entered the competition since its inception in 2008, including Western Sydney Wanderers in 2012, and Melbourne City in 2015.
In each of our first meetings with those sides, we turned out with a loss, so our team will be out to buck the trend this time around with the Phoenix.
Wellington are still on the lookout for their first goal though, while Lauren Allan managed to score our first in Kogarah in Round One.
RETURN TO McDONALD JONES STADIUM
It’s been almost one full year since our women featured at McDonald Jones Stadium where they experienced a 1-1 draw with Brisbane Roar.
We’re out to turn the tide at the ground this time out as our last win there came in February 2020 when we defeated Adelaide, 2-nil.
If we are to win this weekend, we will need to be ruthless in front of goal which is a skill our leading goal-scorer Tara Andrews has in abundance. She seems to enjoy playing at the stadium having scored five goals in her past seven there.
While won’t need any more motivation other than collecting the three points, there’s no denying the expected large home crowd will help spur on the team as typically is experienced when a Double Header comes to town.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Emily van Egmond (Newcastle Jets)
Who else would it be?
Our local star makes her much anticipated return in gold this Friday and will start in the heart of our midfield.
Van Egmond currently sits in second place on our all-time goal scoring tally for the A-League Women, and is not only a threat in front of goal, but is exceptionally dangerous with her passing game.
While the current Matilda is only here on a short-term deal, she’ll be looking to make the most of her time back in Newcastle and putting in the work to make sure we walk away with three points.
Grace Jale (Wellington Phoenix)
Jale recently became one of the new signings made by the new Phoenix side in October, and will be a handful for our Jets defence if she isn’t nullified.
The young Kiwi international has spent time playing college soccer in the USA, and has already shone for her country as well having scored four goals in the two matches she’s played.
She’s one player that can turn a game with her deadliness in front of goal.
STATS & FACTS
This weekend sees captain Cass Davis hit her 99th straight match since making her debut as she extends that Liberty A-League record, while it also marks Emily van Egmond’s 99th match in the league too.
Van Egmond will join American midfielder Elizabeth Eddy in the midfield this week with the latter performing well in her first outing where she managed almost pulled off 70% accuracy of her attacking passes in the opponent’s half.
Young defender Kirsty Fenton also shone in the stats department completing over 85% of her overall passes, winning nine over her 13 duels and making five tackles and four interceptions.
Phoenix are still awaiting their very first goal in history. If our Jets concede one this Friday, it’ll be a momentous occasion for whoever is the lucky goal scorer.
