A-League Women: Matilda and young gun combination excites for the Newcastle Jets

The Newcastle Jets might not have got the three points, but the combination of a veteran Matilda and young gun created plenty of fireworks as the team took it to the league leaders.

NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 19: Lara Gooch of the Jets celebrates a goal with team mates during the A-League Women round five match between Newcastle Jets and Melbourne City at No. 2 Sports Ground, on November 19, 2023, in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)

The Newcastle Jets’ A-League Women’s team welcomed back a local superstar over the weekend as Emily van Egmond played the first of her four-game stint for the club against Melbourne City at No.2 Sportsground.

The 30-year-old was brilliant for the side as the Jets played some exciting football, before conceding two late goals to ultimately go down 3-2.

Catch up with a wrap of the main talking points from the weekend’s action.

HEARTBREAK FOR THE JETS

They knocked the ball around incredibly well, were dangerous going forward and played arguably some of their most attractive football in years against the joint competition leaders – but the Jets still finished the game with a loss.

Despite playing some exciting football, the Jets ultimately lost 3-2. Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

After leading 2-1 for much of the game, two late goals saw Melbourne City take all three points in front of an entertained but ultimately disappointed crowd at No.2 Sportsground.

In particular, the team will be disappointed about the manner in which it conceded the second goal, which saw City striker Holly McNamara head the ball home unmarked from about six metres out.

It was a frustrating result for the Jets, however the team can take plenty of heart out of what was a positive performance.

VAN EGMOND SHOWS HER CLASS

Emily Van Egmond was outstanding for the Jets. Photo: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

One of the main reasons behind the improved fluency was Matilda Emily van Egmond.

In the first of her four-game stint with her hometown club, the 30-year-old was all class for the Jets, dominating the midfield and proving to be a key threat going forward.

In fact, it only took 14 minutes for van Egmond to get her name on the scoreboard, finishing off an excellent counter attack to level things up at 1-1.

The midfielder had another couple of half chances to put the team in front, before setting up the team’s second goal.

Picking the ball up on edge of her own box, van Egmond beat her opponent and put in a lovely through ball for striker Lara Gooch, who showed plenty of speed and great composure to bury the ball past City’s keeper Lysianne Proulx and put the Jets up 2-1.

JETS HIT WITH COUNTER-PUNCH

The Jets were effective on the counter against City. Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

The Jets’ goals were great examples of how dangerous the team was on the break.

Time and time again they were able to transition quickly from defence to attack, with the speed of Gooch up front and quality of delivery from the likes of van Egmond and Cass Davis in midfield causing City plenty of headaches.

Despite having only 39 per cent of possession, the team created plenty of chances and finished with 14 shots to City’s 11.

GOOCH A BRIGHT SPARK

Lara Gooch has been impressive for Newcastle. Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

The Jets’ second goal was a case of the old and the new generations of Newcastle football combining perfectly.

Picking the ball up deep in her own half, 30-year-old van Egmond showed exactly why she has more than 100 Matildas caps to her name with a brilliant through ball for 18-year-old Gooch, who turned on the afterburners to speed away from the City defence to slot the ball home.

It was one of several dangerous moments from the young gun, who broke well down the left channel and then cut the ball back to set up van Egmond’s goal.

Gooch could well have had a second on the stroke of halftime, with a shot from the top of the box sliding just wide of the goal.

After impressing off the bench last season, the youngster has taken her game to another level in the current campaign and looms as one of the team’s most exciting prospects.