The Newcastle Jets bowed out of the 2018 FFA Cup, following a 1 – 0 defeat at the hands of Melbourne City in the Round of 16.
A spectacular effort from Bruno Fornaroli in the 54th minute proved the difference at AAMI Park, as Ernie Merrick’s side struggled to take their chances in the final third.
Glen Moss put in another solid shift between the sticks, pulling off a couple of sharp saves to deny City in the early stages.
The gloveman found himself a long way up the pitch in the ninth minute – trying to cut off a City counter attack – using all his experience to outfox Lachlan Wales.
Daniel Georgievski provided plenty of service to his midfield when moving up the pitch and found himself in some dangerous positions in attack – as Dimi Petratos found him with a pin-point long ball in the 16th minute – though the outstretched defender just couldn’t control his chance.
Despite the lack of polish in front of goal, Dimi Petratos and Ronald Vargas toiled in the middle of the pitch and showed glimpses of the combination that lit up the 2018 Hyundai A-League Final Series.
It was a stalemate in the opening half, as both teams went the sheds in need of some inspiration, taking the chance to regroup on a traditionally chilly evening in Melbourne.
The Jets started the second half the more likely and came close from a corner kick – as Vargas hit Boogaard at the back post to combine with Matt Ridenton – but his attempt on goal was cut off by Galekovic.
Some Fornaroli magic would hurt the visitors soon after, with a top shelf strike that proved to good for an outstretched Glen Moss.
Ridenton would have the only other chance of note for the Jets, thanks to some fleet-footed work around the byline, but again Galekovic was up to task to maintain City’s lead.
The Jets will now focus on their preparations for the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 season, with City moving through to the Quarter Finals of the FFA Cup.
The moments:
4’ | First chance of the night! Great run down the left by Georgievski, as he links with Vargas at the top of the area – who puts his strike over the crossbar #MCYvNEW #FFACup
9’ | Glen Moss finds himself a loooong way from home there, but he does brilliantly to cut off the danger as City looked to break through #MCYvNEW #FFACup
16’ | CHANCE! Neat ball over the top from Dimi there! Georgievski makes his way into the area, but at full stretch he can’t control a volleyed effort #MCYvNEW #FFACup
50’ | CHANCE! Vargas floats a corner kick to the back post, as Boogaard heads onto Ridenton who looks to sneak one past Galekovic but the custodian is up to task #MCYvNEW #FFACup
54’ | City take the lead through Fornaroli (1-0) #MCYvNEW #FFACup
60’ | Lovely work from Ridenton there, with some fancy footwork along the byline. He tries his luck from a difficult angle but Galekovic is in good position to cut off the strike #MCYvNEW #FFACup
Ground: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Attendance: 3,673
Melbourne City: 3.Scott JAMIESON, 4.Harrison DELBRIDGE, 5.Bart SCHENKVELD, 6.Osama MALIK, 7.Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 8.Riley McGREE, 10.Dario VIDOSIC, 18.Eugene GALEKOVIC, 19.Lachlan WALES, 26.Luke BRATTAN, 23.Bruno FORNAROLI
Subs: 1.Dean BOUZANIS, 11.Michael O’HALLORAN, 13.Nathaniel ATKINSON, 36.Dylan PIERIAS, 30.Moudi NAJJARINE
Subs Not Used: 1.Dean BOUZANIS, 11.Michael O’HALLORAN, 36.Dylan PIERIAS, 30.Moudi NAJJARINE
Yellow Cards: 26.Luke BRATTAN (35’), 10.Dario VIDOSIC (69’)
Red Cards:
Goals: 23.Bruno FORNAROLI (54’)
Newcastle Jets:
3.Jason HOFFMAN, 4.Nigel BOOGAARD (c), 6.Steven UGARKOVIC, 7.Dimi PETRATOS, 10.Ronald VARGAS, 16.Nick COWBURN, 17.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI, 19.Kosta PETRATOS, 20.Glen MOSS (gk), 23.Matt RIDENTON, 44.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY
Subs: 13.Ivan VUJICA, 22.Lachlan JACKSON, 28.Pat LANGLOIS, 32.Angus THURGATE, 40.Noah JAMES (gk)
Subs Not Used: 28.Pat LANGLOIS, 40.Noah JAMES (gk)
Yellow Cards: 17.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI (40’), 16.Nick COWBURN (77’)
Red Cards:
Goals:
