Newcastle Jets recorded a credible 2-2 draw with Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
Despite going behind to an early Jamie Maclaren goal, Scott Miller’s Jets hit back to lead the Hyundai A-League round 19 fixture 2-1 until the 69th minute of play.
Mitch Cooper scored his first goal for the club in the 15th minute of the match, nodding an inch perfect Enver Alivodic cross beyond Michael Theo to restore parity to the contest.
Soon after Roar left back Corey Brown was correctly ruled to have handled Leonardo’s pass in the area, giving the Jets a penalty. Milos Trifunovic stepped up and calmly sent Theo the wrong way to notch his ninth goal of an increasingly impressive campaign.
The Jets – who traded attack for attack with Roar in a free-flowing and high tempo second half – held the lead until roughly 20 minutes to go when Brisbane defender Jade North let fly in the area. While North’s shot would have missed the mark, the fortuitous deflection it took off Alivodic’s hand ensured that the ball ultimately nestled in the back of Mark Birighitti’s net.
In the final 20 minutes of the contest both teams had opportunities to win the game. Mateo Poljak struck the woodwork with a fierce shot from outside the area for Newcastle, while Steven Lustica brought the best out of Birighitti at the other end of the pitch.
Late on Birighitti leapt to his right to thwart Corona from a set piece situation, and Jason Hoffman’s deflected effort just missed the target.
FULL TIME! That’s the ball game in Queensland! We record a credible 2-2 draw with the high-flying Brisbane Roar FC on their home patch after a high tempo 90 minutes. Top effort on the road, team!
Posted by Newcastle Jets on Friday, 12 February 2016
Ultimately, Miller’s Jets can return to the Hunter with their heads held high having produced a determined display against John Aloisi’s high-flying Roar outfit.
And the Jets will have the chance to go three unbeaten when they come up against Ernie Merrick’s Wellington Phoenix on home soil in Hyundai A-League round 20 on Saturday 20 February 2016.
Brisbane Roar 2 (Maclaren 6’, Alivodic (OG) 69’)
Newcastle Jets 2 (Cooper 15’, Trifunovic (Pen) 19’)
Suncorp Stadium, Queensland
Referee: Kris Griffiths-Jones
Newcastle Jets: 1. Mark Birighitti (Gk), 2. Daniel Mullen, 3. Jason Hoffman, 4. Nigel Boogaard (C), 7. Enver Alivodic, 8. Mateo Poljak (5. Ben Kantarovski 77’), 9. Milos Trifunovic, 10. Leonardo, 14. Mitch Cooper (19. Morten Nordstrand 46’), 16. Steven Ugarkovic, 24. Nicholas Cowburn (22. Lachlan Jackson 65’)
Substitutes not used: 17. Radovan Pavicevic, 20. Ben Kennedy (Gk)
Yellow cards: Poljak, Kantarovski
Red cards: Nil
Brisbane Roar: 1. Michael Theo (Gk), 5. Corey Brown, 7. Corona, 9. Jamie Maclaren, 13. Jade North, 15. James Donachie, 17. Matt McKay, 19. Jack Hingert, 22. Thomas Broich, 23. Dimitri Petratos (8. Steven Lustica 67’), 28. Brandon Borrello (10. Henrique 61’)
Substitutes not used: 14. Daniel Bowles, 17. Javier Hervas, 21. Jamie Young (Gk)
Yellow cards: Brown
Red cards: Nil
