Newcastle Jets 3-1 Sydney FC
By Kieran Yap 14/3/26
Above: Josie Allan and Sophie Hoban. Photo: Newcastle Jets
The Newcastle Jets have defeated Sydney FC 3-1 at No. 2 Sportsground thanks to a brace by Sophie Hoban. The win gives the Jets some hope for the season and keeps their slim finals hopes alive.
Following a three week break for the Asian Cup group stages, the A-League women was back in action. Sydney FC named an almost first choice lineup for their trip to Newcastle, but curiously chose to have two goalkeepers on the bench. Newcastle came into this game in search of their first win since January. If they needed a boost in confidence, when these two sides last met, Newcastle secured the points.
The home side were aggressive early, and Melina Ayres looked dangerous. The striker tested Heather Hinz from outside of the box and then again with a header. But neither effort could beat the in-form goalkeeper.
Sydney FC took the lead slightly against the run of play. Riley Tanner caused chaos with a run behind the defence, then pressuring Claudia Cicco as she attempted to clear. Georgia Ritchie made a decision to take matters into her own hands and came roaring out off her line, but Tanner beat her to the ball.
Despite the open net, the ball passed through three more Sydney FC players before Mackenzie Hawkesby finally slotted the ball beyond the repositioned Ritchie to make it 1-0.
Melina Ayres soon had her side level when Hinz and Madison Ayson became bizzarely discombobulated. Ayres took full advantage and scored with a simple finish in the 21st minute.
Sophie Hoban has be the architect of most of Newcastle’s best moves this season. Before half time she put The Jets into the lead with her first of the season. After dispossessing Rubi Sullivan, she prodded the ball beyond Hinz with a classy toe-poked effort.
Another flick from Hoban almost provided The Jets with a third, but the ball tricked wide. Newcastle were in the ascendancy and Josie Allan was next to test Hinz with a long range stinger.
The home side continued to probe and Allan’s ball found Hoban in the area. Her finish through the legs of Hinz gave Newcastle the important two-goal cushion that they needed.
Sydney FC pushed forward in search of goals, but despite coming close through Bianca Galic they could not close the gap. Sydney’s finals hopes have all but faded with that result, but The Jet’s season still has a pulse, and they played the type of football that would trouble most teams. They will look to add another win to their season when they travel to face Brisbane next week
Teams: NEWCASTLE JETS (4-3-3): Ritchie, Cicco, Wilson, Prior, Bates, Hoban, Dundas, Copus-Brown, J Allan, Collins, Ayres. Substitutes: Boertje, Paige, Lancaster, L Allan, Karapidis, Brown.
Goals: Ayres 21′ Hoban 30′ 73′
Sydney FC (4-3-3): Hinz Fenton, Ayson, Sullivan, Pearson, Lemon, Hawkesby, Galic, Corbett, Ulkekul, Tanner. Substitutes: Tallon-Henniker, Halmarick, Luchtmeijer, Cassar, Robertson, Oppedisano.
Goals: Hawkesby 15′
Referee: Izzy Cooper.
Attendance: TBC
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