Injury-time winner denies Sydney FC

The champagne will stay on ice for Sydney FC after Newcastle Jets burst their premiership bubble.

Kosta Petratos celebrates his first A-League goal with his Jets teammates Picture: Getty Images

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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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 dark horse.

Perhaps of greater concern for Corica is the fitness of star Grant, who left the game with a groin complaint after a flawless opening half-hour, in which he terrorised Newcastle and produced some sublime interplay with German weapon Alex Baumjohann and Kosta Barbarouses.

Once he left the contest, the life was sucked out of Sydney FC’s attack – even after the injection of superstar Milos Ninkovic after the break.

Sydney will now hope to seal their first-past-the-post title in its 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.