The Jets produced their most complete performance of the season, according to coach Ernie Merrick, as they routed Western Sydney Wanderers 4-0 on Friday night.
The home side came out of the blocks all guns blazing and never looked back, as Johnny Koutroumbis, Jason Hoffman, Ben Kantarovski and Steven Ugarkovic got on the scoresheet.
Newcastle thought they had the lead inside the opening five minutes, when Andrew Nabbout nodded in a Petratos cross, only for it to be ruled out for offside.
However, there was no denying the Jets minutes later as time seemed to stand still for Koutroumbis who launched from the edge of the box, with a shot which seared into the bottom corner.
Newcastle weren’t content with a one-goal lead and continued the attacking onslaught. Nabbout was played in on goal, going one-on-one with Janjetovic, but he just chipped wide.
Urgarkovic then took on a strike from long range, which took a deflection before crashing into the left-hand post.
The Wanderers created few chances in the front third, with Mark Bridge’s free header at the back post the only notable opportunity. But, he headed straight at Jets keeper Glen Moss.
The Jets headed to the sheds with a one-goal advantage, and when the sides returned the Wanderers looked much sharper than they had in the opening half.
Veteren striker Brendon Santalab made way for Spaniard Oriel Riera at the break and immediately the Spaniard had an impact at the point of the Wanderers attack.
While Riera couldn’t finish a couple of golden chances, at the other end, the Jets were clinical.
In the 60th minute, a neat touch from Joey Champness sent Jason Hoffman bearing down on goal, and the Jets winger cooly slotted across Janjetovic.
Then, eight minutes later Ben Kantarovski added the Jets third as he nodded in Petratos’ inswinging corner at the near post.
The Jets weren’t done with three goals though as Steve Urgarkovic added a fourth in the 84th minute. Dimi Petratos summed up the situation superbly, back-heeling to the flying midfielder who curled his finish past Janjetovic.
Newcastle sending much of the 9,862 fans home happy, as they romped to a 4-0 victory.
From the coach:
“I’d say it was the most complete performance of the season so far and I asked for that because I felt that we were too lucky the last two games to come away with three points each time. Tonight I said we’ve got to start well and finish off well and they delivered in spades.”
“I think it was one of those games where it was complete domination. There was lots of energy and we put the opposition under so much pressure.”
The moments:
3’ | 0 – 0 | Champness creating some opportunities up front with some sharp footwork #NEWvWSW
4’ | 0 – 0 | The celebrations ring out across @MJStadium after a thrilling minute of play. Nabbout finds the back of the net, but he’s been ruled offside #NEWvWSW
10’ | 1 – 0 | GOAL! Johnny Koutroumbis get in! #NEWvWSW
10’ | 1 – 0 | Koutroumbis collects the ball on the edge of the penalty area, steadies himself and finishes as Janjetovic could only watch on as it thundered into the bottom corner #NEWvWSW
12’ | 1 – 0 | CHANCE! Nabbout has a 1-on-1 with Janjetovic as he finds space in behind the Wanderers defence. His chip over the top sails just wide of goal #NEWvWSW
28’ | 1 – 0 | CHANCE! Steve Ugarkovic, so close! He hits the upright with a long range shot #NEWvWSW
35’ | 1 – 0 | CHANCE! Dimi fires with his left, curling towards the far post his strike goes just wide of the top corner #NEWvWSW
59’ | 2 – 0 | GOAL! Hoffman! #NEWvWSW
59’ | 2 – 0 | Champness with the assist as he tangled with the Wanderers defence, laying it off neatly as Hoffman burst through and finished with precision #NEWvWSW
67’ | 2 – 0 | CHANCE! Two strikes on goal as Ivan Vujica is right in the mix here #NEWvWSW
68’ | 3 – 0 | GOAL! Kantarovski! Absolute scenes #NEWvWSW
68’ | 3 – 0 | Kantarvoski makes it three for the season, all from corners! #NEWvWSW
84’ | 4 – 0 | GOAL Steven Ugarkovic! Wow, that was something else! #NEWvWSW
84’ | 4 – 0 | Nabbout broke away on the counter, hit a charging Petratos who stumbled, adjusted and provide a silky back-heel to Ugarkovic for the finish #NEWvWSW
Newcastle Jets: 3.Jason HOFFMAN, 4.Nigel BOOGAARD, 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI, 6.Steven UGARKOVIC, 7.Dimitri PETRATOS, 13.Ivan VUJICA, 15.Andrew NABBOUT, 18.Johnny KOUTROUMBIS, 20.Glenn MOSS, 24.Joe CHAMPNESS, 44.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY
Subs: 10.Wayne BROWN, 12.Mario SHABOW, 23.Devante CLUT
Subs Not Used: 22.Lachlan JACKSON, 30.Ivan NECEVSKI
Yellow Cards: Koutroumbis 18’, Kantarovski 75’
Red Cards:
Goals: Koutroumbis 10’, Hoffman 60’, Kantarovski 68’, Ugarkovic 84’
Western Sydney Wanderers FC: 5.Brendan HAMILL, 8.Roly BONEVACIA, 10.Álvaro CEJUDO, 11.Brendon SANTALAB, 14.Jumpei KUSUKAMI, 19.Mark BRIDGE, 20.Vedran JANJETOVIC (gk), 22.Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS, 24.Raúl LLORENTE, 33.Michael THWAITE, 42.Keanu BACCUS
Subs:, 7. Steve LUSTICA, 9.Oriol RIERA
Subs Not Used: 3.Jack CLISBY, 18.Robbie CORNTHWAITE, 30.John HALL (gk).
Yellow Cards:
Red Cards:
Goals:
