Jets pull off dramatic late draw with Wanderers

A dramatic late penalty has cost the Western Sydney Wanderers the chance to go to the top of the A-League table.

Newcastle’s Kuach Yuel Is challenged by Western Sydney’s Mark Natta at Bankwest Stadium. Picture: Getty Images

A dramatic late penalty has cost the Western Sydney Wanderers the chance to go to the top of the A-League table as the Newcastle Jets battled their way to a 1-1 draw at a rain-soaked Bankwest Stadium.

In another instalment of the rivalry between the clubs following coach Carl Robinson’s defection from Newcastle after just eight months to take on the Wanderers job, a sloppy Patrick Ziegler challenge on Luka Prso inside the area gifted the Jets the chance to equalise from the spot in the 81st minute, which Roy O’Donovan duly converted.

It was a decision, however that left Welshman Robinson, bemused.

Watch every match of the 2020/21 A-League Season LIVE & On-Demand with Fox Sports on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

“It just seems to be too many times that we get on the wrong end of calls. I’ve been in Australia for a year and I don’t think I’ve had a penalty which is amazing,” Robinson said.

“Sometimes you have to roll your sleeves up and dig in and we did that in the second half because Newcastle put us under pressure and then the ref gives a call like that.”

Three weeks after being booed relentlessly by the fans of the club he walked out on, another former Jet Bernie Ibini would go from alleged traitor to tormentor as he pounced on a loose ball to net the opener and his first goal for Western Sydney after just 36 minutes.

But the Jets’ ability to fight from behind was another indication of their resolve amid adversity as they battle on without an owner and permanent head coach.

The Novocastrians may only have four points from their opening six games but yet again were tough to break down and threatening with the ball, mainly through livewire attacker Valentino Yuel who caused problems for Western Sydney all evening.

Three days after gaining his Australian citizenship on Australia Day, Irishman O’Donovan would celebrate his newfound national status and cap off a momentous week with the Jets’ equaliser from the spot.

Another week, another young gun stealing the show. This time it was exciting Wanderers right-back Tate Russell who tormented the Jets all night with his marauding runs and creative play down the wing. The product of Western Sydney’s academy has gone to another level this season.

Ziggy Gordon was the most understated of the Wanderers’ off-season recruits but he’s proving the most important. The former Mariner made a string of crucial blocks late in the second half including a goal-bound effort from O’Donovan as he lead a youthful Wanderers defensive group.

It was a heart-warming sight to see the man who took the Socceroos to their first World Cup, Rale Rasic as a guest in the Wanderers’ chairman’s box along with another former national team boss in Les Scheinflug and current manager Graham Arnold.

It was a nice move by Paul Lederer to keep some greats of the game connected to the A-League.

NCA Newswire