Depleted Jets stun Sydney FC in a game they didn’t want to play

A match Newcastle did everything in their power to postpone has ended in one of their most memorable victories of the season after a thread-bare Jets side shocked Sydney FC 2-0.

Ravaged by COVID, without their assistant coaches, forced to play several youngsters and having to rush a goalkeeper back from injury just to have a man between the posts had many thinking the Jets would be on the wrong side of a cricket score. Instead, 17-year-old striker Archie Goodwin scored two goals to stun last year's finalists who were completely outplayed in Newcastle on Friday night.

The surprise loss was a harsh jolt to Sydney’s resurgence of recent weeks after the Sky Blues were more than humbled, rearing the ugly head of a toothless display in the final third. Having won three games in succession across all competitions, Steve Corica’s side struggled to create many clear-cut chances and could be set to suffer further with star playmaker Milos Ninkovic forced off with a hamstring injury.

“Nowhere near good enough,” Sydney FC captain Alex Wilkinson said. “It’s disappointing. We got on a bit of a roll the last couple of weeks and disappointing we couldn’t go on with it.”

The young Jets fired their first warning shot in the opening minutes when teenager Lucas Mauragas unleashed a dipping volley that forced Sydney goalkeeper Thomas Heward-Belle into a fine reflex save.

That early chance didn't fire Sydney into life. While they looked composed trying play out from their backline, they struggled for any dangerous territory and failed to create any clear chances. Adam Le Fondre skewed a shot across the face of goal after the half hour that was perhaps their best opportunity.

Sydney FC’s Milos Ninkovic was forced to leave the field with a hamstring injury.Credit: Getty

By contrast, the Jets were thoughtful, proactive and incisive as they played through Sydney's lines. Minutes before the break, they eventually wore down the veteran Sky Blues. Daniel Penha was the architect, slipping a clever ball through to Mauragas down the left flank and the fullback's perfectly weighted cross was pounced upon by Goodwin who made no mistake at the far post, heading the Jets into the lead. Penha set-up Goodwin for his second in as many minutes, slipping a delicate through ball behind Sydney's backline for the 17-year-old striker to calmly slot past Heward-Belle and double the Jets' tally.

Sydney’s woes continued five minutes after the restart when Ninkovic signalled for the bench while clutching his hamstring. The Sky Blues were happy to see the back of Goodwin when hew as brought after the hour but his replacement, Eli Babalj, should have sealed all three points. The former Red Star Belgrade was one-on-one with Heward-Belle but rolled a tame shot straight into the Sydney goalkeeper.

The hosts came even closer two minutes later. A well-worked set piece was turned into goal by Taylor Regan, only for the VAR to find an offside breach. The closest Sydney came to a late comeback was a chance for substitute Adrian Segecic but goalkeeper Jack Duncan was equal to the task, despite playing through injury.