Newcastle Jets 2-2 Western Sydney Wanderers
by Alice de Koster-Kitto (3/11/24)
Above: Sophie Harding opens her account for the season. Photo: Western Sydney Wanderers
The final match of the 2024/25 Ninja A-League season’s opening round ended in a 2-2 draw between Newcastle Jets and Western Sydney Wanderers, at Cessnock Sports Park, on Sunday.
The meeting of these two sides was one of great contention, with the Jets knocking the Wanderers out of the title race last season, with an early season goal proving to be the difference between the Jets moving forward to the semi-final, and the Wanderers missing out.
The match could not be easily predicted with Newcastle placing sixth on the ladder in the previous season, just above Western Sydney’s seventh. The rivalry saw both teams open their 2024/25 season with aggressive play and an obvious determination, which lent itself to an exciting end to the opening round.
Despite the Jets holding most of the possession from the first touch, it was Western Sydney’s Sophie Harding who managed to net the first goal of the match just four minutes in.
Possession remained in the attacking end for Newcastle throughout the first half, as they continued to capitalize on it, making several shots, and taking any opportunity they could get to equalize. The hosts made consistent attempts, including a shot from the center of the box by squad debutant Deven Jackson in the 14th minute, which was ultimately blocked when landing at the feet of Shamiran Khamis.
Western Sydney’s defensive line proved too strong to allow their opponents a goal in the first half, despite the Jets’ tactical dominance.
The 27th minute saw the visitors 2-0 up, with a goal from returning Wanderer Saveska, assisted by Harding.
Saveska made her return to the club in search of game time, after a season with Championship winners Sydney FC and has brought back with her an attacking force that has already proven to be a valuable asset to the team.
The match momentum continued through the first half, with a driving determination only furthering the Jets aggressive tactic.
The third goal of the game was not found until the very last of the five minutes of added time in the first half, with a close-range header from Jackson, opening Newcastle Jets scoring for the season. The goal also marks her first goal for the club.
Saveska opened the second half with an ambitious attempt from outside the box, assisted by Amy Chessari, which ultimately fell too wide to reach the back of the net.
Newcastle’s last-minute goal in the first half seems to have lit a fire under the Wanderers, as they showed a significant increase in passes and attempts, as opposed to the first half.
Lauren Allan managed to find the equalizer at the 61st minute, assisted by Lara Gooch with an impressive through ball.
As the match approached stoppage time, both sides made impactful substitutions. Sheridan Gallagher replaced Alexis Collins, in her return to the Ninja A-League, after winning the NRLW Premiership with Newcastle Knights in 2023. Gallagher caused an immediate impact on the pitch, settling back into the league in her Jets debut against her former club.
Other notable substitutions included a double debut for Western Sydney in the 77th minute, with Amelia Cassar and Bronte Trew replacing goal scorers Sophie Harding and Sienna Saveska respectively. The match marked the first senior minutes for the pair, having signed scholarship deals with the club at the start of the season.
The match remained aggressive and exciting toward the tail end. With five minutes of added time, both sides went into the final minutes with innate passion and determination, each searching for that winning goal, and seizing every opportunity to leave their opening match of the season with a win.
Ultimately neither side managed to find the back of the net, and the match ended in a 2-2 draw.
While the stats show a definite dominance in favor of the Jets, Western Sydney held their own against their rival, picking up tactically in the second half.
The Wanderers are set to face Adelaide United next weekend and home and will surely be expecting a win after Adelaide placed at the bottom of the ladder in the 2023/24 season. It will be crucial, however, that the team doesn’t take their pursued dominance for granted, and continue to play with the same tactics and determination they displayed this week.
Newcastle will be heading to HBF Park in the second round, going up against Perth Glory away. Though their opponent placed 10th last season, they have made several notable signings that could prove to be an unprecedented threat to their visitors.
Teams: NEWCASTLE JETS (5-3-2): Krzyzaniak, Baumann, Cicco, Davis, Prior, Allan, Copus-Brown, Hoban, Jackson, Allan, Collins. Substitutes: Dundas, Gallagher, Gooch, Robertson, Wilson
Scorers: Jackson 45+ 4′, Allan 61’.
WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS (4-4-2): Khamis, Matos, McComasky, Harrison, Hayward, Price, Saveska, Harasa, Chessari, Rue, Harding. Substitutes: Cassar, Kapetanellis, Segavcic, Trew, Younis
Scorers: Harding 4’, Saveska 27’.
Referee: Bec Mackie.
Attendance: 2,858.
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