The Newcastle Jets made a spectacular return to EnergyAustralia Stadium tonight thrashing the A-League’s second-placed team Adelaide 3-1
13 November 2010
The Newcastle Jets made a spectacular return to EnergyAustralia Stadium tonight thrashing the A-League-s second-placed team Adelaide 3-1 in front of a bumper crowd of 8278.
It was the perfect start to a five-game home ground schedule for the Jets with Branko Culina-s men jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first 13 minutes courtesy of some superb play from central defender Nikolai Topor-Stanley.
Topor-Stanley headed home a laser-guided Kasey Werhman header to secure the Jets- opener before showing great control to chest down a cross for Marko Jesic, who fired a left foot strike across the competition-s best keeper Eugene Galekovic for the 2-0 lead.
The atmosphere tonight was something to savour, with the thousands of Jets fans on hand vocal in their support of what appeared to be a rejuvenated Jets side.
Jets debutant Francis Jeffers was a constant threat up front for the Jets, going excruciatingly close to extending the Jets- lead in the 38th minute after beating an offside trap to go one-on-one with Galekovic.
Galekovic-s gallant effort punching away Jeffers- subsequent chip shot came minutes after Ali Abbas almost scored a goal of his own, sending a Tarek Elrich cross just inches wide of the upright.
Any concerns around the newly-laid EnergyAustralia Stadium turf were quickly put to rest following kick-off with both teams enjoying sturdy footing throughout the match.
But it was the Jets who enjoyed it most right from the outset, pressing hard and putting constant pressure on Adelaide-s penalty area.
Among the Jets- best performers was Australian Under-20s captain Ben Kantarovski, fresh from agreeing to a new three-year deal with the club this week.
But it was undoubtedly Jeffers- presence which caused the Adelaide defence the most headaches, with the former Arsenal and Everton striker-s darting runs drawing in the defence and opening the box up for his teammates.
Jeffers was just as effective with the ball, setting up the Jets- third goal of the match with a perfectly executed through ball in the 52nd minute to Jesic, who promptly slotted his second for the night with a superb left foot strike into the top left of the net.
Adelaide-s only goal came from a 79th header from Iain Fyfe, in a rare lapse of concentration from the Jets defense.
The 3-0 win tonight means the Jets will donate $15,000 to their charity partner Hunter Medical Research Institute at $5000 per goal – a terrific result for the region-s foremost authority on medical research.
The club-s first win since its Week 7 win against Perth in September sets the Jets up for blockbuster clash against the competition leaders the Brisbane Roar.
CAUTIONS – YELLOW CARDS
Ali Abass 5th minute
Ben Kantarovski 29th minute
Paul Reid 49th minute
Marko Jesic 52nd minute
Travis Dodd 84th minute
SUBS
61st minute Jeffers for Haliti
84th minute Abbas for Patafta
85th minute Jesic for Petrovski
NEWCASTLE JETS 2 (N Topor-Stanley 4th min, Marko Jesic 13th, 52nd min) bt ADELAIDE UNITED FC 1 (I Fyfe 79th min)
NEWCASTLE JETS UPCOMING GAMES
EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle
Saturday, 13 November v Adelaide United FC, kickoff 7.45pm
Wednesday, 17 November v Brisbane Roar FC, 7.30pm
Saturday, 20 November v Wellington Phoenix FC, 7pm
Wednesday 24 November v Central Coast Mariners, 6pm
Saturday 27 November v LA Galaxy (Qantas Challenge), 7.30pm
