Canberra United 3-4 Newcastle Jets
By Kieran Yap (26/11/23).
Above: Sarina Bolden (right) and Libby Copus-Brown (left) for Newcastle Jets. Photo: Newcastle Jets Twitter.
The Newcastle Jets won an entertaining match against Canberra United and showed that they are more than just the Emily van Egmond show.
Newcastle went into this game buoyed by the announcement of a new signing. Prior to kickoff, fans were treated with the news that Philippines international Sarina Bolden had arrived at the club and would make her debut. For a team that scored twice against Melbourne City last week and were still missing Melina Ayres through injury, this was a huge coup and one that had the potential for immediate impact.
It was Canberra United who started off on the front foot and barely five minutes had passes before Michelle Heyman muscled her way goal side and produced a composed finish past Izzy Nino.
Newcastle responded almost immediately through after Bolden raced clear at the other end and beat a stranded Chloe Lincoln in the one one-on-one.
The Jets were looking confident and soon had the lead. Emily van Egmond lifted the ball over Lincoln from the edge of the box to make it 2-1 with a touch of trademark class.
Canberra were behind on the scoreboard but not on their heels. Sasha Grove and Mary Stanic-Floody started to impose themselves on the midfield. The two youngsters began creating chances with quick passing and fast feet and Grove’s surging run was almost finished by Vesna Milivojevic, who was denied by Nino.
Milivojevic levelled the scores in the 58th minute with a classy free kick. But Bolden restored the Jets lead almost instantly with a similar goal to her first. Cass Davis supplied the pass for Bolden to finish with a brilliant chip, and the Jets legend almost scored one herself as the game became increasingly open.
Lauren Allan made it 4-2 with a well-struck effort across goal in the 81st minute and it looked like that was enough to settle the result, but Milivojevic forced a mistake from Nino with an effort from 18 yards that slipped through the keeper’s hands.
The arrival of stoppage time did nothing to slow down events. Both teams continued to attack and Bolden almost scored a third but her shot was hit over the bar. Canberra may have been lacking the presence of Michelle Heyman who had gone off injured but were not lacking belief as they continued to look for an equaliser.
The game eventually ended after an unbelievable seven goals. The Jets have three points, but perhaps more importantly, they have a striker that will give them belief that they can compete against any opposition even after van Egmond’s guest stint ends.
Teams: CANBERRA UNITED (4-4-2): Lincoln, Bertolissio, Clough, Ilijoski, Grove, Christopherson, Murray, Stanic-Floody, Flannery, Heyman, Milivojevic. Substitutes: Mckenzie, Nathan, Jackson, McNulty, Majstorovic.
Scorers: Heyman 2’ Milivojevic 58’ 90’
NEWCASTLE JETS (4-4-1-1): Nino, Cicco, Prior, Karipidis, Baumann, Allan, Copus-Brown, Davis, Gooch, van Egmond, Bolden. Substitutes: Wilson, Barbieri, Huyn, Hoban, Rochaix.
Scorers: Bolden 5’, 61’. van Egmond 13’, Allan 81’
Referee: Caitlin Williams
Attendance: TBC
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