It was a tough night in Ballarat as our Jets narrowly went down to Western United despite a late attempt for a comeback.
Western started the game well, with their centre back Leo Lacroix scoring the first from a corner. Chances were few and fair between throughout the first half, with our best chance coming through a crossed pass that almost found the head of Jordan Elsey at the back post.
The second half started in the favour of the hosts, with Lacroix again scoring with a header after our defence weren’t able to clear a bobbling ball. Our side pushed back late on, and finally found a goal through Angus Thurgate who latched onto a ball from Dylan Murnane close to goal. We then had a golden chance through Eli Babalj to equalise, but unfortunately his header went wide.
The game now sees Western move to the top of the table, while our Jets will look to bounce back over a run of away matches against Wellington Phoenix at the Central Coast and Adelaide at their home.
See the play-by-play review of our game below:
90+4′ Angus Thurgate pulls off an incredible effort. He sprints back on a Western counter attack to deny a goal with a great ball…and then a follow-up tackle!
90+2′ After a VAR check, they’ve changed the red card to a yellow.
90+1′ RED CARD! Topor-Stanley is sent off.
88′ Babalj comes within inches of scoring! Murnane pops in a terrific cross and find the head of his striker, but Eli’s shot is wide.
87′ Babalj gets in behind the defence and tries a shot, but it falls in the hands of the keeper.
82′ GOAL!!!!! WU 2-1 NEW Thurgate bundles in an effort close to game after receiving a pass from Murnane
76′ Our opponents fire down the outside, and instead of crossing it from an acute angle, try a firing shot. It blasts into the side netting to no avail.
69′ Mikelatdze fires a free-kick from long range. It’s a bullet but it’s too straight for the keeper.
63′ We find a way through the Western defence with Murnane, but his cross unfortunately doesn’t hit the mark.
60′ Regan, Murnane and Boumal all come onto the pitch in one go.
59′ We try a planned set piece as Penha passes a free-kick for Mikeltadze. Beqa’s subsequent shot is blocked though.
55′ Western have a chance for a third, but Duncan pulls off a terrific save.
53′ There’s a lengthy check of VAR for the goal, but unfortunately, it stands
52′ GOAL! WU 2-0 NEW Another headed goal from Western.
50′ We get lucky as Western deliver a cross, which lands on Jurman’s head. The rebound then knocks into the crossbar and out.
45′ Second half has begun in Ballarat.
45′ A beautiful piece of football as Penha plays Yuel in behind the defence. Yuel’s cross then finds Thurgate inside the box, but his touch lets himself down.
42′ Yuel has a chance from a header, but the shot is wide. Turns out he’s offside anyway.
35′ Western take a free-kick from a dangerous spot. The initial shot is blocked by the wall, but they attempt it again from the rebound. The shot ends up wide though.
32′ We go so close from a corner! The ball lands on the back post with Elsey coming in, but it just scrapes the top of his head and goes over the by-line.
31′ A nice piece of skill by Thurgate puts him in a good position in the box, he tries to cross but its blocked.
30′ Silvera pulls the trigger with his left boot, cutting back on the inside of the defence. It looks good from the boot, but is cleared by a header.
29′ Penha tries from distance, but it lands in the hands of the keeper.
28′ Silvera drives and delivers a hard, low cross. Dangerous, but it’s cleared by the defence.
24′ Kilkenny makes a bad challenge on Penha and earns himself a yellow card.
17′ Yuel tries his luck, taking on defenders out wide. He delivers a cross, but it’s gobbled up by the keeper easily.
15′ GOAL! WU 1-0 NEW Western score from the corner.
14′ Western attack down our right edge, and deliver a cunning cross. Luckily, Arques is there to stop the chance with a sliding challenge.
6′ Prijovic has the first chance of the game, but his shot outside the box is blasted over the bar.
4′ Both sides feeling each other out at the moment.
KICK-OFF: We’re underway in Ballarat!
SATURDAY 2:20PM: Our line-up is set!
SATURDAY 2:20PM: Western United have confirmed their team for tonight: 1. Young (GK), 6. Imai, 44. Topor-Stanley (c), 4. Lacroix, 17. Garuccio, 16. Krhin, 88. Kilkenny, 10. Lustica, 5. Pierias, 8. Wales, 99. Prijovic. Subs: 37. Scott (GK), 9. Wenzel-Halls, 26. Milanovic, 27. Skotadis, 31. Bayew, 33. Collins, 34. Theoharous
SATURDAY 9:30AM: Here’s everything you need to know in our Match Preview
SATURDAY 9:30am: The Boss has given the Final Word ahead of tonight!
