The Newcastle Jets Youth side have drawn 0-0 with Melbourne Victory Youth this evening in hot conditions at the historic Adamstown Oval.
The Newcastle Jets Youth side have drawn 0-0 with Melbourne Victory Youth this evening in hot conditions at the historic Adamstown Oval.
There was no lack of entertainment, particularly in the action packed second half, despite the lack of goals.
Victory midfielder Luke Pilkington had perhaps the best chance of the opening stanza when he latched onto an indecisive clearance in the 14th minute. Pilkington-s first-time low strike flew through a throng of bodies only to whistle centimetres wide of the target.
The home side then looked to open the scoring themselves just before halftime through impressive striker Mirjan Pavlovic, who was played clean through on goal by a Jesse Pinto through-ball. After making an intelligent angled run in behind the defence, Pavlovic-s attempt on goal ultimately lacked the power to beat Melbourne custodian Glen Moss.
Indeed, it was the Jets that would step out from the break looking the more dangerous of the two sides as they stepped up their intensity and played some scintillating short-passing football.
Moments after the interval and Pavlovic again had the chance to open his account, this time being played through by talismanic skipper Taylor Regan from the back. However, Moss made a superb double save on the rampaging front man to keep the scores level.
At the other end and the lively Tedros Yabio had an angled drive parried away brilliantly by a diving Dion Shaw on 54th minutes.
In what was a thrilling final 15 minutes, the Jets piled on the pressure, and it nearly paid off when substitute Adrian Karakolevski found himself on the end of some fine lead-up work by right-back Jon Griffiths and Pavlovic. The crafty striker wriggled free to blast a right-footed strike that seemed destined for the back of the net, only for the ball to fizz inches wide.
An injury-time red card to Jarrad Ross didn-t stop Newcastle from going for the winner, and with only seconds remaining Pavlovic skipped past three defenders before hitting a thunderous left-footed drive harmlessly wide of Moss- right hand post.
That was to be the last attack of a game that perhaps the Jets will feel they dominated, only to come away with a share of the spoils.
Match Details:
Newcastle Jets Youth: 1. Dion SHAW, 3. Jarrad ROSS, 4. Matt SIM, 5. Scott BALDERSON, 6. Taylor REGAN (c), 7. Will ANGEL, 8. Damian BROSQUE (12. Adrian KARAKOLEVSKI 55-), 9. James VIRGILI (13. Fabian IACOVELLI 53-), 10. Mirjan PAVLOVIC, 11. Jesse PINTO
Unused substitutes: 20. Robbie KOLAK (gk)
Yellow cards: Scott Balderson 43-, Jarrad Ross 59-/90+1-
Red cards: Jarrad Ross 90+1-
Melbourne Victory Youth: 20. Glen MOSS (gk) (OA), 2. Matthew FOSCHINI, 3. Luke PILKINGTON, 5. Diogo FERREIRA, 6. Mate DUGANDZIC, 7. Aziz BEHICH (c), 8. Stephen HATZIKOSTAS, 9. Grant BREBNER (OA)( 16. Matthew THEODORE 46-), 10. Nathan ELASI, 11. Tedros YABIO (12. Antonio LA VERDE 57-), 14. Peter FRANJIC
Unused substitutes: 1. Sebastian MATTEI (gk)
Yellow cards: Stephen Hatzikostas 51-
Red cards: Nil
Newcastle Jets Youth: 0
Melbourne Victory Youth: 0
Referee: Tim McGilchrist
