Leonardo’s first goal for the club wasn’t enough to help Newcastle Jets to a result in Queensland on Sunday as Brisbane Roar rallied to win the Hyundai A-League round 26 encounter 2-1 at Suncorp Stadium.
The Jets’ diminutive Brazilian put Scott Miller’s men ahead in the 50th minute after former Newcastle defender Jade North was adjudged to have handled Steven Ugarkovic’s shot inside the area.
However 16 minutes later Roar restored parity to the contest when substitute Henrique was ruled to have been brought down by Newcastle captain Nigel Boogaard inside the box. While Boogaard was shown a red card, Henrique held his nerve to send Mark Birighitti the wrong way from the spot to make the score 1-1.
Seven minutes later German star Thomas Broich put the home side ahead when he slid a crisp strike into the back of the net following Corey Brown’s centre.
FULL TIME » We went ahead through a Leonardo penalty however an equaliser from Henrique from the spot and a crisp effort…
Posted by Newcastle Jets on Sunday, 3 April 2016
The Jets started Sunday’s stoush in the sunshine state slowly, but after a series of good saves from Birighitti early on worked their way into the battle.
Enver Alivodic and Leonardo both had good moments for the Jets in attack, while Ryan Kitto went close three minutes before the break with a right foot effort that whizzed over the crossbar.
Newcastle started the second stanza brightly and were rewarded when North handled Ugarkovic’s strike which gave Leonardo the chance to convert.
In the 56th minute Birighitti produced a fine save to deny Dimitri Petratos, while just before the hour mark Kitto’s header on goal from Alivodic’s cross was saved by Jamie Young.
Boogaard was ruled by Strebre Delovski to have fouled Henrique in the area in the 65th minute, with the referee dismissing the club’s skipper to leave the Jets to play the final 25 minutes of the match with ten men.
While the Jets battled bravely all game, Brisbane’s numerical advantage in the final quarter of the match ultimately told as the hosts went ahead through Broich before restricting Newcastle to few real opportunities to level proceedings.
Brisbane Roar 2 (Henrique 67’ (pen), Broich 74’)
Newcastle Jets 1 (Leonardo 50’ (pen))
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Referee: Strebre Delovski
Newcastle Jets: 1. Mark Birighitti, 2. Daniel Mullen, 3. Jason Hoffman, 4. Nigel Boogaard (C), 7. Enver Alivodic (12. Andy Brennan 62’), 8. Mateo Poljak (5. Ben Kantarovski 62’), 10. Leonardo, 16. Steven Ugarkovic, 19. Morten Nordstrand (22. Lachlan Jackson 71’), 24. Nicholas Cowburn, 28. Ryan Kitto
Substitutes not used: 6. Cameron Watson, 20. Ben Kennedy (Gk)
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Boogaard
Brisbane Roar: 5. Corey Brown, 7. Corona, 9. Jamie Maclaren (24. Thomas Oar 57’), 13. Jade North, 15. James Donachie, 17. Matt McKay, 19. Jack Hingert, 21. Jamie Young (Gk), 22. Thomas Broich, 23. Dimitri Petratos, 28. Brandon Borrello (10. Henrique 51’)
Substitutes not used: 1. Michael Theo (Gk), 8. Steven Lustica, 14. Daniel Bowles
Yellow cards: Petratos
Red cards: Nil
