Newcastle Jets 3-2 Melbourne Victory
By Callum Logie (13/03/24).
Above: Newcastle Jets’ Melina Ayres celebrates late goal against Melbourne Victory. Photo: Newcastle Jets
The final push of the season is well and truly here, as two teams desperate to stay in the finals race took each other on in Newcastle.
Newcastle came into the fixture in excellent spirits after snagging a 3-1 away win over title contenders Western United. Melbourne Victory on the other hand were following a tense 0-0 Melbourne derby and will be looking pick back up the form that’s kept them in finals contention.
Newcastle made one change from the team that defeated Western United away from home with Claudia Cicco returning to the lineup in place of Josie Wilson. Melbourne Victory also made a change with Lia Privitelli returning to the lineup in place of Beattie Goad.
The Jets nearly had the perfect start as they won a corner in the fourth minute of the game. Mindy Barbieri sent a looping corner to the back post which Sarina Bolden headed down to Sophie Hoban. Hoban’s effort was deflected onto the crossbar by Jamilla Rankin and scrambled away.
Two minutes later, Barbieri sprinted forward after a ball was quickly distributed by Isobel Nino. Barbieri was able to square the ball to the talented youngster Emma Dundas who’s effort from outside the box forced a fingertip save from Courtney Newbon.
The first 10 minutes of the game were played at a very high pace, with both teams sprinting forward whenever they won the ball. At the 10 minute mark, Bolden tried a shot from a tight angle but rolled her effort straight to Newbon. Lauren Allan had another effort a moment later which was also well collected by the keeper.
Melbourne’s first proper chance came in the 12th minute, when Sara D’Appolonia found herself in an advanced position in the box, creating some space for Emily Gielnik. When the prolific attacker got on the ball, she curled an effort across the Newcastle goal which forced a good save from Nino.
Bolden was inches from giving her team the lead as a well directed cross from Lauren Allan found the head of the prolific forward who struck the crossbar from about 7 years out.
As the ball flew back and forth down the pitch, the Victory were able to create a great chance at 15 minutes as Gielnik directed a fantastic cross to Rachel Lowe. Lowe initially made weak contact with the ball but D’Appolonia was there to collect the ball and play it back for Lowe to convert and give the Victory an early lead, somewhat against the run of play.
Both teams were eager to press in the early going which created a lot of turnovers in the first 20 minutes. Hoban and Cassidy Davis were determined in their pressing and created a lot of possession for their team due to their work rate in the midfield. D’Appolonia was the catalyst on the other side.
The pace of the game slowed down as Melbourne Victory began to control possession. When looking to create going forward, there was a clear target for both sides. Victory were looking to create through Gielnik, while Newcastle were looking to create opportunities for Bolden.
At 35 minutes, D’Appolonia was again looking to create for the Victory, directing a low cross to the goalscorer Lowe. A scramble in the jets box led to Lowe being able to take a shot but Nino had closed off the space to make a save and keep the lead at only 1-0.
In the 38th minute, Newcastle created one of their best chances of the half as a Hoban run created some space for Dundas who played a terrific ball across to Davis who was able to dummy past a defender to take a shot which was excellently saved by Newbon.
The Jets were rewarded for their persistence, Lorena Baumann wandered forward and directed a terrific cross toward Bolden who was actually unable to make any contact with the ball. Running behind her however was the indefatigable Lauren Allan who drove the ball into the back of the net to equalise five minutes before half time.
In stoppage time in the first half, Bolden was denied the goal to give the Jets the lead. Allan made an excellent run down the right wing and drove a great low cross to the penalty spot which Bolden took first time. At full stretch, Newbon was able to tip the ball away from the goal and then quickly get to her feet to collect.
The second half started with Barbieri driving a deflected effort from outside the box to immediately set the tone. This was a do or die game for the Jets and they were playing like it. The ball stayed in the Victory’s defensive third for almost the entire first five minutes of the second half.
As had become a trend in this game, the moment that the Victory worked the ball forward, they took the lead once again. At 52 minutes, A floated free kick from Rankin was sent rather tamely toward the far post but Tori Hansen was the first to react and struck a well hit volley across Nino’s goal to restore the Victory’s advantage.
Lowe hit the crossbar after a freekick was only partially cleared into her path in the 58th minute. A well struck half-volley forced Nino into a fingertip save and the deflection off the bar was directed kindly enough for the keeper to collect.
Lowe had another chance in the 63rdminute as a break forward reached her in an advanced position, but the shot was directed wide of the goal. Young Matilda Lara Gooch brought some energy off the bench for the Jets, attempting a shot over the bar at 68 minutes.
Time was running out for the Jets as the final 20 minutes passed by. Davis took a long range effort which was well-directed but did not have enough power to test Newbon who had a very impressive game for the Victory.
In the 80th minute, substitute Melina Ayres ran across the edge of the box after a throw in from Laura Allan. The former Victory forward struck a curling effort which found its way past Newbon and into the back of the net to equalise for the Jets.
Newbon took a knock late in the game but elected to stay in the game as the minutes drained away for the Jets. Emma Checker was caught in possession by Allan in the 87th minute and the super sub Ayres struck a terrific effort into the top left corner that left the walking wounded Newbon flat footed. The Jets had their first lead with only three minutes to go.
Emotions were running high as in the 89thminute, Barbieri and Gielnik got into a scuffle, pulling on each others’ jerseys after Gielnik attempted to get Barbieri to continue the game. Isobel Nino reacted dramatically and ran out to pull Gielnik off of Barbieri, her gloves making contact with Gielnik’s neck which lead to yellows for Barbieri and Gielnik and a red card for Nino.
After a very tense eight minutes of stoppage time with Lily-Rose Dunbar in goal and only 10 players, the Jets were able to hold on for the biggest win of their season.
NEWCASTLE JETS (3-4-2-1): Nino, Baumann, Prior, Cicco, Copus-Brown, Davis, Hoban, Dundas, Allan, Barbieri, Bolden. Substitutes: Dunbar, Huynh, Gooch, Hammond, Ayres
Scorers: Allan 40′, Ayres 80′, 87′.
Teams: MELBOURNE VICTORY (4-3-3): Newbon, Rankin, Morrison, Hansen, Checker, Zois, Chidiac, D’Appolonia, Privitelli, Lowe, Gielnik. Substitues: Candy, Nash, Murphy, Briedis, Curtis
Scorers: Lowe 14′, Hansen 53′.
Referee: Rebecca Durcau
Attendance: TBC
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