The Newcastle Jets would save their biggest win for the final match of the regular season, decimating the Central Coast Mariners 8 – 2 in the final #F3Derby of the 2017/18 Hyundai A-League season.
It was a record-breaking and ruthless showing from Ernie Merrick’s side, who were unrelenting in attack after going up by three goals mid-way through the first half.
The win was only soured by a possible hamstring injury to Ben Kantarovski, who was subbed off late in the first half.
It was an end-to-end contest in the opening exchanges, with plenty to play for as the Jets looked to turn around a tough month and the Mariners looked to avoid the wooden spoon – following the Phoenix’s upset over City in the game prior.
Both teams took their chances from distance, but neither was able to find the mark early.
Joe Champness looked dangerous on the ball, making some darting runs that caused plenty of problems for the Mariners’ defence and it would be the young winger who would open the scoring in the 10th minute.
Riley McGree was able to work it to Champness on the left, as he took the ball on the 18-yard box and worked his way across the penalty area, coolly finishing through some traffic and past Ben Kennedy.
The Jets’ second came courtesy of Steven Ugarkovic, who laid on a pinpoint pass for Roy O’Donovan in behind the Mariners’ defence – the Irishman made no mistake, posting his eighth goal for the season.
Only minutes later Riley McGree was again involved, but this time he would be the one to find the back of the net. After picking the ball up at the top of the area, he struck across the face of goal and managed to sneak his low strike just passed an outstretched Ben Kennedy.
Connor Pain was the standout for the home side in the opening half, looking dangerous when on the ball and creating a couple of chances before finding the back of the net in the 39th minute.
In an interesting twist of fate, the half time score would reflect that of the season’s opening round as the Jets led 3 – 1.
McGree – on his way to Man of the Match honours – would open the Jets account in the second half as he angled a run in the area away from goal, before shooting across his body to again beat Kennedy.
Lachlan Jackson would get on the scoresheet five minutes later from the set piece, with a header at the back post before minutes later a penalty saw O’Donovan with a second.
In the blink of an eye, the Jets had six and in the 75th minute McGree would complete his hat-trick – with almost a carbon copy of his second goal – as Pato Rodriguez injected himself into the game with an assist.
Rodriguez would then play a role in the Jets’ eighth, as he cut back to Dimi Petratos for a one-touch finish after some fancy footwork on the byline.
The goal was Petratos’ tenth of the season and capped of an extraordinary night at Central Coast Stadium.
The records:
- The Jets’ eight goals at Central Coast Stadium is the most-ever scored by an away team in the Hyundai A-League.
- The tally overtakes the previous highest amount scored by Perth Glory, when they put six past the Jets in a 6-1 drubbing in Newcastle in January, 2016.
- And the 10 goals scored in the match is also a record, with the fixture become the highest-scoring clash in Hyundai A-League history.
- There had been seven previous games where a total of nine goals were scored but, but the 44th edition of the F3 Derby now sits alone at the top.
The moments:
1’ | 0 – 0 | Aaaand we’re off – c’mon you Jets! #CCMvNEW #F3Derby
10’ | 1 – 0 | GOOOALLL! Joe Champness! #CCMvNEW #F3Derby
11’ | 1 – 0 | A neat little combination down the right as McGree opens up Champness, who makes a bee-line for goal and puts it past Ben Kennedy – great strike! #CCMvNEW #F3Derby
20’ | 2 – 0 | GOAL! O’Donovan! The Irishman is back on the scoresheet! #CCMvNEW #F3Derby
21’ | 2 – 0 | Ugarkovic threads a perfect pass to O’Donovan who timed his run exquisitely, he makes no mistake with the strike coolly slotting it past Kennedy #CCMvNEW #F3Derby
24’ | 3 – 0 | GOAL! Another! This time Riley McGree! #CCMvNEW #F3Derby
24’ | 3 – 0 | McGree collects the ball at the top of the 18-yard box, steadies and strikes across the face of goal, just beyond the reach of an outstretched Ben Kennedy #CCMvNEW #F3Derby
39’ | 3 – 1 | Pain makes no mistake this time, as he gets the home side on the scoresheet #CCMvNEW #F3Derby
44’ | 3 – 1 | SAVE! Jack Duncan with a brilliant effort to deny Baro at close range! #CCMvNEW #F3Derby
53’ | 4 – 1 | GOAL! McGree has two! #CCMvNEW #F3Derby
53’ | 4 – 1 | McGree gets the ball at the top of the area, angles his run away from goal and shoots across his body, Kennedy can’t handle the strike and it finds its way into the back of the net! #CCMvNEW #F3Derby
60’ | 5 – 1 | Make the five! GOOALL to Lachy Jackson! #CCMvNEW #F3Derby
60’ | 5 – 1 | From the set piece, an unmarked Jackson finds his way to the back post and buries a header from point blank range! #CCMvNEW #F3Derby
68’ | 5 – 1 | PENALTY! Joe Champness taken down in the area! #CCMvNEW #F3Derby
68’ | 6 – 1 | GOAL! That’s two for Roy and six for us! #CCMvNEW #F3Derby
75’ | 7 – 1 | GOAL! That’s three for McGree! #CCMvNEW #F3Derby
75’ | 7 – 1 | After being opened up thanks to some fancy footwork on the byline from Rodriguez, McGree again angles his run away from goal before slicing a strike through traffic to complete his hat-trick! #CCMvNEW #F3Derby
80’ | 7 – 2 | The Mariners add another through Buhagiar #CCMvNEW #F3Derby
81’ | 8 – 2 | GOAL! Petratos! #CCMvNEW #F3Derby
81’ | 8 – 2 | Rodriguez again provides the service after a jinking run in the area, he cuts back to an open Petratos who drills a strike past Ben Kennedy #CCMvNEW #F3Derby
Newcastle Jets: 1.Jack DUNCAN (gk), 3.Jason HOFFMAN, 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI 6.Steven UGARKOVIC, 7.Dimitri PETRATOS, 9.Roy O’DONOVAN, 17.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI, 18.Johnny KOUTROUMBIS, 27.Riley McGREE 44.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY
Subs: 11.Pato RODRIGUEZ, 16.Nick COWBURN, 20.Glen MOSS (gk), 22.Lachlan JACKSON, 32.Angus THURGATE
Subs Not Used: 16.Nick COWBURN, 20.Glen MOSS (gk)
Yellow Cards: 24.Joseph CHAMPNESS (45’+3’), 9.Roy O’DONOVAN (46’), 7.Dimitri PETRATOS (82’)
Red Cards:
Goals: 24.Joseph CHAMPNESS (10’), 9.Roy O’DONOVAN (20’ & 68’ p), 27.Riley McGREE (24’, 53’ & 75’), 22.Lachlan JACKSON (61’), 7.Dimitri PETRATOS (81’)
Central Coast Mariners: 1.Ben KENNEDY (gk), 3.Josh ROSE, 4.Jake McGING, 7.Andrew HOOLE, 8.Blake POWELL, 11.Connor PAIN, 15.Alan BARO (c), 16.Liam ROSE, 21.Kye ROWLES, 23.Wout BRAMA, 24.Lachlan WALES
Subs: 2.Storm ROUX, 12.Trent BUHAGIAR, 17.Josh BINGHAM, 18.Tom GLOVER (gk), 22.Jacob MELLING
Subs Not Used: 17.Josh BINGHAM, 18.Tom GLOVER (gk)
Yellow Cards:
Red Cards:
Goals: 11.Connor PAIN (39’), 12.Trent BUHAGIAR (80’)
