Newcastle Jets 0-3 Melbourne City
By Kieran Yap
Above: a record crowd arrived at Maitland Sports Ground to watch Newcastle vs Melbourne City. Image: Newcastle Jets
A clinical Melbourne City have won the first leg of the semi final against The Newcastle Jets 3-0. Goals to Daniela Galic, Emina Ekic and Shelby McMahon gave City a commanding lead heading into next week’s match, while some dogged, resolute and organized defending ensured a clean sheet.
City coach Dario Vidosic named an attacking squad to travel to face The Jets. The bench featured only one recognized defender in Julia Grosso. Galic started as a roaming centre forward and was joined in attack by Ekic and Rhianna Pollicina.
Newcastle elevated Young Matilda Lara Gooch into the starting lineup. Sarina Bolden joined her and Laura Allan as part of a front three with MelindaJ Barbieri and Libby Copus-Brown close behind.
The match started with both sides looking to impose themselves on the contest. The Jets pressed high and immediately with the intent to pressure City into making errors deep in defence. The pace of Gooch and the tenacity of Bolden caused some nervy moments at times, but The City back four remained composed.
Five minutes into the match, the visitors had the lead. Bryleeh Henry won the ball on the right flank and combined with Leticia Mckenna to tee up Pollicina. The playmaker’s effort crashed off the woodwork, but Galic was well positioned to tuck home the rebound and give her side the advantage.
It was an attacking first half by both sides, but clear cut chances were few. Bolden was forced deep to gather possession, and aside from some set pieces, was kept relatively quiet by Taylor Otto and Rebekah Sott.
Copus-Brown’s long-range ability and Gooch’s confident running were Newcastle’s best avenues to goal. Gooch twice tested Barbara in the City goal. first with a cut inside and left footed effort that forced a save, then an attempted chip on goal with her right boot that had the Brazilian backpedalling.
City entered the break 1-0 up, but not without work to do, and the mood was far from celebratory after Karly Roestbakken was withdrawn with what looked like a serious ankle injury. The 2019 World Cup defender had been crucial for City’s premiership winning run in the last few weeks and after an injury ridden two years, it was particularly hard to see.
City made adjustments in the second half. Stott shifted wider to man-mark the dangerous Gooch. The youngster has speed and confidence that earmark her as a potential national team star, and it was a mark of her impact that the City captain took on the task of stopping her.
This was done rather successfully. Stott stayed tight on the winger, rarely letting her turn in possession or pick up any speed running toward goal. With Bolden remaining well marshalled and Henry keeping Allan in check, it began to feel like City had gained control over the match despite some early momentum from the Jets.
Any hope that the record crowd might have had was dampened when Ekic doubled the lead in the 61st minute. Laura Hughes turned cleverly on the left and played a deadly ball across goal that the Bosnian international was able to tap home at the far post.
The assist was reward for an exceptional game from Hughes. Her dogged and skilful display in midfield may have been her best performance in a City shirt. Since arriving at the start of the season from Canberra United, Hughes has been a reliable presence in the centre of the park, but was truly outstanding in the semi-final first leg. She won every ball possible, relished the physicality that the Jets sought to bring and moved the ball with confidence either by dribbling it herself or with some well-chosen passes.
It was a match winning effort from the midfielder. Both tireless and classy and Newcastle had no answer for her influence.
With the match nearing an end, Newcastle had two choices. To try and keep the score at 2-0 and hope for a better away leg, or to try and pull a goal back. In front of a record home crowd they chose the latter.
Melina Ayres was brought on to replace Bolden, and City answered by subbing on Hannah Wilkinson. The club’s leading scorer was left in reserve with Vidosic preferring a more mobile, fast paced attack, but her experience was important in the late stages of this game.
Caitlin Karic made her first appearance after returning from injury and Shelby McMahon entered the fray. The Junior Matildas captain sealed the premiership for City weeks ago with an excellent solo goal against Perth Glory, and capped off an excellent win with another brilliant finish to make it 3-0 in the 77th minute.
A curling pass by Bryleeh Henry found McMahon in the penalty box. Curiously she was allowed to control and turn under little pressure and her finish was perfectly placed over Tiahna Robertson in the Newcastle goal.
The Jets continued to push for goal to claw back the deficit and Gooch came closest from a goalmouth scramble, but City threw bodies in front of the line to block the shot.
The win sees Melbourne City head home with a commanding lead for the second leg, but more importantly in confident form in front of goal. If there has been a consistent criticism of the league leaders it is that they were unable to finish enough chances despite dominating possession.
In this first final, they took their chances and created them in different ways, although it must be said that both Hughes and Henry were instrumental in the win. Both players successfully fought for possession in key areas and were damaging with the ball once they had it.
The loss of Roestbakken remains the only downside to this game, and Newcastle need to find something special to claw back from 3-0 down next weekend.
Lineups:
Newcastle Jets: Robertson, Wilson, Hoba, Prior, Baumann, Gooch, Copus-Brown, Davis, Allan, Barbieri, Bolden. Substitutes: Ayres, Huynh, Hammond, Dundas, Nino.
Melbourne City: Barbara, Henry, Otto, Stott, Roestbakken, Davidson, Hughes, L Mckenna, Pollicina, Ekic, Galic. Substitutes: Grosso, McMahon, Wilkinson, Karic.
Goals: Galic 5’ Ekic, 61’ McMahon 77’
Referee: Bec Mackie
Attendance: 6836
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