The Queensland Roar have notched their second win of the National Youth League season, controlling play throughout in a 3-0 win over the Newcastle Jets at Perry Park in Brisbane.
In its first ever home game in the youth competition, the Queensland side gave its fans plenty to cheer about with a comfortable win punctuated by two goals from Chris Grossman and a neat strike by Josh McCloughan.
The only down point for the home team came in the 76th minute, when second-half substitute Tyler Thurtell was sent off after picking up two yellow cards in the space of 15 minutes.
The undermanned Jets were game and never stopped chasing, but the Roar’s quickness and the Hyundai A-League experience of the likes of Michael Zullo, McCloughan, Robbie Kruse and Matt Mundy proved tough to counter.
For the first 35 minutes, it looked faintly possible the Roar might end up with nothing to show for a clear dominance of possession.
With Zullo giving Newcastle plenty of headaches down the left-hand side and Josh McVey also posing a constant threat, the Roar were on top from the opening whistle.
However it took until the 36th minute to open the scoring, when Grossman bobbed up to head in Kruse’s free kick.
Newcastle keeper Jordan Griffiths was able to get his hands to the ball, but not with sufficient force to stop it going over the goal-line.
Griffiths earlier had to parry away a goal-bound drive from Isaka Cernak, in addition to watching a well-struck shot from McVey rebound back off the cross-bar.
Zullo also had several chances to score in the first half, notably with an exciting volley from McVey’s angled ball across the box. The shot eventually flew high but the technique from the Hyundai A-League regular was brilliant.
The second half served up more of the same, with McCloughan rifling home with his left foot in the 49th minute to all but seal the three points and also induce a moment of minor confusion.
The centre-back’s shot actually rolled through a gap in the back of the net and referee Alan Milliner had to double-check that it was indeed a goal.
Grossman added the finishing touches to the win by slotting home on the break during second-half stoppage time.
Although running a clear second in possession, the Jets looked a threat on the counter-attack on several occasions, often through the agency of Kaz Patafta.
It was the former Melbourne player who volleyed just wide from a corner in the 32nd minute, forcing Roar keeper Griffin McMaster to act quickly to cover his near post.
Antun Kovacic also came close to pulling a goal back for Newcastle against the run of play in the 68th minute. But the impressive McVey was perfectly positioned at the back post to clear his header off the line.
Match Details
Queensland Roar 3 (Chris Grossman (38- 92-), Josh McCloughan 49-)
Newcastle Jets 0
Perry Park, Brisbane
Crowd: 367
Sunday 12 October 2008
Referee: Alan Milliner
Queensland Roar line-up: 1.Griffin McMASTER (gk) (OA) (20.Matt ACTON (gk) 61-), 7.Isaka CERNAK (3.Michael ANGUS 46-), 13.Chris GROSSMAN, 2.Robbie KRUSE, 12.Josh McVEY, 6.Matt MUNDY, 10.Michael RYAN (15.Tyler THURTELL 61-), 9.Adam SAROTA, 11.Michael ZULLO, 14.Ben GRIFFIN (OA), 8.Josh McCLOUGHAN (OA) (4.Daniel BOWLES 61-)
Substitutes not used: Nil
Yellow cards: Tyler Thurtell (71- 72-), Robbie Kruse 83-
Red Cards: Tyler Thurtell 72-
Newcastle Jets line-up: 1.Jordan GRIFFITHS (gk), 3.Jon GRIFFITHS, 10.Marko JESIC, 9.Adrian KARAKOLEVSKI (12.Simon MOONEY 46-), 7.Kaz PATAFTA, 8.Jesse PINTO, 6.Taylor REGAN (15.Brodie MOOY 58-), 11.Jarrad ROSS, 4.George STROGYLOS (14.Matt HARPER 54-), 5.Joel WITHERDIN, 2.Antun KOVACIC (OA)
Substitutes not used: Nil
Yellow cards: George Strogylos 51-, Joel Witherdin 63-, Antun Kovacic 66-, Marko Jesic 71-
Red Cards: Nil
