Queensland Roar have claimed second place on the National Youth League table with a dramatic 3-2 win over the Newcastle Jets at Ballymore.
The Jets twice conceded within minutes of taking the lead, before Antun Kovacic scored an own goal in the 90th minute to give the Roar a third win over Newcastle.
The match started cagily with both defences denying any room for attack, before Jets goalkeeper Justin Pasfield twice denied Robbie Kruse from the edge of the area with two spectacular saves midway through the first half.
The game opened up in the final five minutes of the half with Kaz Patafta sending a long-range strike whistling past the Roar goal before Luke Brattan forced another good save from Pasfield.
But the opening goal on 44 minutes was more bizarre than spectacular.
A hopeful 50-metre pass from Taylor Regan eluded the outstretched foot of Ben Martin in front of goal, but the striker’s presence fooled Matt Acton and the ball trickled into the back of the net to send the Jets into the break a goal up.
The Roar restored parity just two minutes after half-time when Adam Sarota’s corner slipped through a congested Jets area to Matt Mundy at the back post, who gave Pasfield no chance with a powerful finish.
The Jets then capitalised on some sloppy Roar defending to regain the lead on 60 minutes.
Daniel Bowles slipped to let Brodie Mooy through on goal and Acton could only parry his shot into the path of Adrain Karakolevski who smashed the ball home from the penalty area.
Again, though, the Jets failed to hold the advantage and Tim Smits hit back just five minutes later when he met Tyler Thurtell’s through pass and slipped the ball under the keeper.
As the match ticked on substitute Jets keeper Jordan Griffiths was forced to make two saves in the final 10 minutes, first from Chris Grossman and then from Sarota.
Just when it looked Newcastle was going to hold out, Kovacic sent a Michael Angus cross past his own goalkeeper to gift the home team the points in the 90th minute.
Grossman almost added another in stoppage time but his 25-metre curler struck the outside of the post.
Match Details
Queensland Roar 3 (Matt Mundy 47-, Tim Smits 65-, Antun Kovacic (og) 90-)
Newcastle Jets 2 (Taylor Regan 44-, Adrain Karakolevski 60-)
Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
Saturday 13 December 2008
Referee: Nathan MacDonald
Assistant Referees: David Walsh, Adam Kersey
Fourth Official: Noah Reynolds
Queensland Roar line-up: 1.Matt ACTON (gk), 2.Daniel BOWLES (12.Michael ANGUS 60-), 5.Luke BRATTAN, 6.Matthew MUNDY, 7.Robbie KRUSE (9.Tyler THURTELL 45-), 8.Michael RYAN, 10.Adam SAROTA (c), 11.Josh McVEY (3.Mitchell BEVAN 60-), 13.Chris GROSSMAN, 14.Tim SMITS (OA), 15.William TUMUSIIME
Substitutes not used: Nil
Yellow cards: Chris Grossman 92-
Red Cards: Nil
Newcastle Jets line-up: 1.Justin PASFIELD (OA) (gk) (20.Jordan GRIFFITHS (gk) 60-), 2.Antun KOVACIC (OA), 3.Jarrad ROSS, 4.Jon GRIFFITHS (16.Simon MOONEY 55-), 5.George STROGYLOS (13.Joel WITHERDIN 60-), 6.Taylor REGAN (c), 7.Brodie MOOY, 8.Matt HARPER, 10.Jesse PINTO, 11.Kaz PATAFTA (14.Ben MARTIN 70-), 14.Ben MARTIN (12.Adrian KARAKOLEVSKI 55-)
Substitutes not used: Nil
Yellow cards: Jarrad Ross 36-, Brodie Mooy 65-
Red Cards: Nil
