Former Jet Adam Taggart proved to be the thorn in Newcastle’s side as the Glory striker struck late to deny the Jets all three points on Sunday afternoon.
Perth stunned the huge home crowd after just eight minutes when Taggart flicked home a pinpoint Diego Castro cross at the near post.
After conceding, the Jets began to get themselves back into the contest, as Vargas teed up O’Dovovan in the 20th minute, however the Irishmen couldn’t put his header on target.
That was quickly forgotten though, as Vargas released Nabbout who glided down the left and whipped a low cross to O’Donovan, who dived low and tapped in the equaliser – much to the delight of the 14,833 strong crowd.
Vargas continued to impress, threading pinpoint passes and creating numerous opportunities before the break.
The sides headed to the sheds level, and when they returned the Jets took the lead via an unlikely source.
Dimi Petratos’ free-kick from the left found Nikolai Topor-Stanley at the back post. The towering defender’s header clattered into the post and the rebound was bundled over the line by Ben Kantarovski, who netted just his fourth A-league goal.
After going behind Perth pushed for an equaliser, forcing Jets’ keeper Jack Duncan to make two brilliant saves.
The first denied Chris Harold who found space down the left edge and went one-on-one with Duncan, before minutes later, he parried away Adam Taggart’s header from point blank range.
But, the former A-League Golden Boot wouldn’t be denied in stoppage time. Harold curled a cross to an unmarked Taggart who clinically finished, deflating the home crowd.
From the coach:
“We had more than enough chances to win that game, we had 14 scoring shots to their nine.”
“We showed the resilience to come back and score two goals. We had several chances to go further ahead and we didn’t take them.”
“Strikers are either on or they’re not. They’ve got to have that in their head, a very positive approach. I think on another day, Andrew Nabbout would have had a couple of goals.”
The moments:
1’ | 0 – 0 | Aaand we’re off here at @MJStadium on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in the Hunter #NEWvPER
2’ | 0 – 0 | Ronny Vargas doesn’t take long to inject himself into this one! A neat ball in leads to a strong chance – great save by Reddy #NEWvPER
8’ | 0 – 1 | Perth are off the mark with a goal as Adam Taggart gets boot to a pin-point Castro cross #NEWvPER
19’ | 0 – 1 | CHANCE! Vargas has it on a string this afternoon, hits O’Donovan who just misses with the header #NEWvPER
22’ | 0 – 1 | O’Donovan sees yellow after a tough challenge on Liam Reddy #NEWvPER
24’ | 0 – 1 | Nigel Boogaard take a bow! Handles a slick run from Diego Castro and nullifies the dangerous Spaniard #NEWvPER
29’ | 1 – 1 | GOAL! Vargas, Nabbout, O’Donovan. I think we could get used to this! The Irishman strikes again! #NEWvPER
39’ | 1 – 1 | Daniel Georgievski sees yellow for a tough challenge on Joseph Mills #NEWvPER
45’ | 1 – 1 | CHANCE! Vujica with a superb cross as Georgievski puts it over the crossbar #NEWvPER
57’ | 1 – 1 | Nabbout again! He’s in everything at the moment, just putting another shot wide #NEWvPER
58’ | 1 – 1 | O’Donovan fouled in good position as Petratos will take his chance from the free kick #NEWvPER
59’ | 2 – 1 | GOOOALL! Kantarovski finds the back of the net to put the Jets in front #NEWvPER
61’ | 2 – 1 | CHANCE! Slick work from Vargas down the touchline sees Petratos take his chance. Great strike and great save from Reddy #NEWvPER
65’ | 2 – 1 | CHANCE! The visitors go close through Harold as Duncan pulls off a cracking save! #NEWvPER
77’ | 2 – 1 | What. A. Save. Jack Duncan with a spectacular effort to keep the Jets in front #NEWvPER
87’ | 2 – 1 | CHANCE! Boogs goes high at the back post after a great corner from Petratos #NEWvPER
88’ | 2 – 1 | CROWD FIGURE: 14, 833 – great effort Jets fans. What a crowd, what an atmosphere! #NEWvPER
90’ | 2 – 2 | Taggart with a great header to level the score as only injury time remains #NEWvPER
Ground: McDonald Jones Stadium
Attendance: 14, 833
Referee: Shaun Evans
Perth Glory: 5. Jacob POSCOLIERO, 8. Xavier TORRES, 9. Andy KEOGH, 11. Mitch MALLIA, 15. Brandon WILSON, 16. Joseph MILLS, 17. Diego CASTRO, 22. Adam TAGGART, 23. Scott NEVILLE, 29. Jeremy WALKER, 33. Liam REDDY
Subs: 14. Chris HAROLD, 20. Jake BRIMMER
Subs Not Used: 13. Nicholas FEELY, 19. Joe KNOWLES, 26. Jacob ITALIANO
Yellow Cards: Harold 89’
Red Cards:
Goals: Taggart 8’, 90+2’
Newcastle Jets:
1. Jack DUNCAN, 4. Nigel BOOGAARD, 5. Ben KANTAROVSKI, 6. Steven UGARKOVIC, 7. Dimi PETRATOS, 8. RONALD VARGAS, 9. Roy O’DONOVAN, 13. Ivan VUJICA, 15. Andrew NABBOUT, 17. Daniel GEORGIEVSKI, 44. Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY
Subs: 10. Wayne BROWN, 22. Lachlan JACKSON, 24. Joe CHAMPNESS
Subs Not Used: 16, Nicholas COWBURN, 20. Glen MOSS
Yellow Cards: O’Donovan 22’, Georgievski 40’, Champness 90+1’
Red Cards:
Goals: O’Donovan 30’, Kantarovski 60’
