The score finished 1 – 0 but it could have been a lot different, as the Newcastle Jets defeated the Brisbane Roar at McDonald Jones Stadium on Friday night.
It was a night of missed opportunities as a rampant Jets outfit wreaked havoc on the Roar defence – creating a raft of opportunities across the match – but they just couldn’t land a killer blow.
Despite a dominant attacking display, the Jets didn’t have it all their own way in a match that saw Brisbane miss a couple of golden opportunities to equalise late in the second half.
It would be Jason Hoffman that would open the scoring in just the 11th minute, thanks to a pinpoint long ball from Georgievski and a brilliant tap on from Andrew Nabbout at the top of the area. The fullback-turned-striker then skilfully beat a defender and put it past Jamie Young with absolute precision.
The Roar custodian would keep them within in striking distance for much of the match, on his way to collecting Man of the Match honours, denying Petratos from an attacking free-kick and a first time strike from Georgievski with a spectacular effort.
Ernie Merrick made a change at the break, bringing on Pato Rodriguez for his second appearance since joining the club. He made an immediate impact with some jinking runs down the left touchline to put his teammates into dangerous attacking positions.
The Argentine also copped some extra attention from the Roar defence that saw Kristensen earn a booking for the best part of a rugby tackle.
For the remainder of the second stanza it was a case of close calls for both sides, as Nabbout had a chance that went just across the face of goal.
Glen Moss pulled off another miraculous save, capping off a fantastic night for the custodian as he recorded his third consecutive clean sheet at McDonald Jones Stadium.
In the final stages it was a pair of defenders who would go closest to doubling the lead as Boogaard and Topor-Stanley looked to combine off a Rodriguez cross into the area, but Boogaards tip on to a free Topor-Stanley at the back post was just too heavy.
Port Macquarie product and Foxtel National Youth League player, Angus Thurgate was substituted into the match in the dying stages, as the midfielder made his A-League debut.
A frenetic period of injury time had the 13,127 strong crowd on the edge of their seats, but the Jets would hold on for their fourth consecutive win at home.
From the coach:
“It was good that we created so many chances but we just didn’t finish them off.
“Jason is a great athlete, he is great at running forward and he knows how to get in the box because he was an attacker as a youngster.
“He did a good job and scored a terrific goal, he was unlucky not to get two.”
The moments:
6’ | 0 – 0 | Vujica with a looooong ball out of defence as Nabbout charges forward, his dashing run is deemed offside #NEWvBRI
11’ | 1 – 0 | JASON HOFFMAN! What. A. Goal #NEWvBRI
11’ | 1 – 0 | A ball over the top from Georgievski finds Nabbout, who skilfully uses his body to control the ball and tip on to Hoffman, who beats a defender and thunders a strike into the bottom corner! #NEWvBRI
14’ | 1 – 0 | @MJStadium rises for a minutes applause in memory of Amy ‘Dolly’ Everett #stopbullyingnow #jetsagainstbullying #NEWvBRI
20’ | 1 – 0 | CHANCE! A probing run from Nabbout down the left sees him knock a beautiful ball to the far post. Hoffman stretches but JUST can’t get boot to ball! #NEWvBRI
42’ | 1 – 0 | Wow. An absolute rocket from Dimi at the free kick! Young is up to the task though, pulling off an almighty save to stop that strike #NEWvBRI
49’ | 1 – 0 | Rodriguez wastes no time in injecting himself into the play with a energetic run that sees him beat 3 defenders! #NEWvBRI
52’ | 1 – 0 | Georgievski SO CLOSE! A first time strike from the defender has Young at full stretch as he tips the ball away #NEWvBRI
57’ | 1 – 0 | CHANCE! Nabbout sneaks in behind the Roar defence and gets a shot away under pressure which JUST runs across the face of goal #NEWvBRI
70’ | 1 – 0 | MOSSY! A fantastic save to keep us in front! #NEWvBRI
80’ | 1 – 0 | CHANCE! Boogs and Topor almost combine for the most sensational of goals! #NEWvBRI
Newcastle Jets: 3.Jason HOFFMAN, 4.Nigel BOOGAARD (c), 6.Steven UGARKOVIC, 7.Dimitri PETRATOS, 10.Wayne BROWN, 11.Pato RODRIGUEZ, 13.Ivan VUJICA, 15.Andrew NABBOUT, 17. Daniel GEORGIEVSKI, 20.Glenn MOSS (gk), 24.Joe CHAMPNESS, 44.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY
Subs: 1.Jack DUNCAN (gk), 18.Johnny KOUTROUMBIS, 22.Lachlan JACKSON, 23.Devante CLUT, 32.Angus THURGATE
Subs Not Used: 1.Jack DUNCAN (gk), 22.Lachlan JACKSON
Yellow Cards: 10.Wayne BROWN (15’), 7.Dimitri PETRATOS (90’+4’)
Red Cards:
Goals: 3.Jason HOFFMAN (11’)
Brisbane Roar: 2.Dane INGHAM, , 5.Corey BROWN, 6.Avram PAPADOPOULOS, 7.Thomas KRISTENSEN, 8.Jacob PEPPER, 9.Massimo MACCARONE, 14.Fahid BEN KHALFALLAH, 17.Matt MCKAY (c), 19.Jack HINGERT, 21.Jamie YOUNG (Gk), 22.Eric BAUTHEAC, 24.Connor O’TOOLE, 36.Daniel LECK
Subs: 3.Luke DEVERE, 20.Shannon BRADY, 27.Adam SAWYER, 31.Brendan WHITE (gk), 77.Ivan FRANJIC
Subs Not Used: 3.Luke DEVERE, 27.Adam SAWYER, 31.Brendan WHITE (gk)
Yellow Cards: 22.Eric BAUTHEAC (23’), 6.Avram PAPADOPOULOS (25’), 7.Thomas KRISTENSEN (50’)
Red Cards:
Goals: N/A
