A-League: Newcastle Jets rewarded with stunning boilover to deny Sky Blues their Premier’s Plate
The Newcastle Jets have taught Sydney FC — when the Premier’s Plate was virtually in their lap — that it ain’t over until it’s over after a late strike kept their finals hopes alive and left the A-League favourites red-faced.
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The champagne will stay on ice for Sydney FC after Newcastle Jets burst their premiership bubble with a stunning boilover win at Kogarah on Tuesday night.
The Sky Blues seemed destined to etch their name into A-League history by securing a record fourth Premier’s Plate — only to be left shell-shocked by an injury-time winner to Jets youngster Kosta Petratos, who fired home his first A-League goal to seal the 2-1 victory.
There’s plenty for Sydney coach Steve Corica to ponder on a night where his premiership-winning squad were also left with injury concerns to star right back Rhyan Grant after being humbled by a Jets side fighting for survival.
A well-marshalled Jets outfit dominated possession, territory and shots on goal throughout the contest — but were almost left to rue countless blown opportunities in a result which keeps their finals hopes well and truly alive.
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“It was just disappointing because we wanted to wrap up the premiership at home here — we wanted to win,” Corica lamented.
“We want to keep winning, keep getting better (and) tonight wasn’t the night.
“We didn’t improve from Friday night’s (late win over Wellington) and we looked tired.”
Until Jets’ winger Nick Fitzgerald blazed home an equaliser with a stunning scissor kick volley midway through the second half, Sydney FC’s premiership march had been defined by Anthony Caceres’ 25th minute poke home from point-blank range.
Then, deep into injury time, 22-year-old Petratos turned ultimate party-pooper with a superb strike to silence the home crowd.
But had Angus Thurgate’s header from six yards right on halftime not been delivered straight into the mitts of Sydney stopper Andrew Redmayne — or Roy O’Donovan put away two chances when one-on-one with the goalkeeper — the Jets could’ve bagged a hatful to truly stamp their mark as the competition darkhorse.
“We weren’t clinical enough in the final third in the first half. I was disappointed with that, and I let them know,” said Jets coach Carl Robinson.
“They took it on board and obviously then two wonderful finishes in the second half.”
Perhaps of greater concern for Corica is the fitness of star Grant, who left the game with a tight groin after a flawless opening half-hour, in which he terrorised Newcastle and produced some sublime interplay with German weapon Alex Baumjohann and Kosta Barbarouses.
“Obviously there’s some more important games coming up in the near future and we can’t afford any major injuries so I thought it was just safer for him to come off,” Corica explained.
However once Grant left the contest, the life was sucked out of Sydney FC’s attack — even after the injection of superstar Milos Ninkovic after the break.
“The first 30 minutes was excellent, I thought we were playing some very good stuff — we were creating a few problems for them especially down (Grant’s) side,” Corica added.
“Once he came off it changed a little bit. Second half wasn’t great, it was a poor performance for us.”
Sydney will now hope to seal the first-past-the-post title in their next clash, against Melbourne City at ANZ Stadium on August 1.
Newcastle now sit just three points outside the top six with three matches to play, starting with Central Coast Mariners on Friday.
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