Brisbane Roar overcame the Newcastle Jets 3-2 in tough conditions in the National Youth League encounter at Goodwin Park on Saturday.
Brisbane Roar overcame Newcastle Jets 3-2 in tough conditions in the National Youth League encounter at Goodwin Park on Saturday.
Despite an early kick-off, conditions were extremely hot and humid, meaning both sides struggled to keep up energy levels in the second half.
Brisbane led 2-1 at half-time through goals from Patrick Theodore and Alex Schiavo. Bobby Russell was the scorer for the Jets before Joe Franze sealed the win for the Roar in the second half. Marko Jesic scored a late consolation goal for the visitors.
Nick Fitzgerald was causing headaches for the Jets defence early on. On six minutes he dribbled evasively down the left before lobbing a pass to Alex Schiavo, whose shot didn’t match the build-up and failed to trouble the goalkeeper.
The Jets had their first attempt on goal from a free kick. Bernado Ribeiro drove in a low shot from well outside the box, which Roar ‘keeper Fraser Chalmers allowed to slip through his grasp. He was able to recover and scoop up the ball before it dribbled over the line.
Theodore opened the scoring for Brisbane after 19 minutes with a brilliant solo effort. He did well to control a lobbed pass, then sliced through the Jets defence before rounding the keeper. He was already celebrating before tapping the ball into the open net.
Newcastle found an equalising goal on 35 minutes as Kale Bradbery cut the ball back for Russell to place the ball past Chalmers .
The Jets were behind again a short time later, as Schiavo was on hand to smash home a loose ball in the box following a corner, to give the Roar a 2-1 lead going into the break.
Chances were few and far between in the second period, as the sapping conditions took their toll.
A floated cross from Brisbane substitute Franze was tipped just over the head of Fitzgerald who was lurking with intent at the back post.
The Roar took a decisive lead on 77 minutes through Franze. Fitzgerald scampered into the Newcastle box down the left before lofting a cross over Anthony Proia’s head. Fortunately for Brisbane, Franze arrived late at the back post to fire past Jets goalkeeper Jack Duncan.
Jets substitute Jesic pulled a goal back a minute before the end of regular time, running onto a lobbed pass to score past the keeper.
Brisbane Roar 3 (Theodore 19, Schiavo 39, Franze 77)
Newcastle Jets 2 (Russel 35, Jesic 89)
Brisbane Roar: 1. Fraser Chalmers (gk) (Brendan White 45), 3. Cameron Crestani, 5. Alex Schiavo, 6. Ross Archibald (c), 7. Patrick Theodore (16. Joe Franze 59), 9. Benjamin Liftin, 10. Kwame Yeboah (11. Anthony Proia 45), 13. Kenneth Dougall, 15. Nick Fitzgerald, 17. Sam Cronin (14. Peter Roditis 59), 18. Max Brown
Newcastle Jets: 1. Jack Duncan (gk), 2. Jacob Pepper, 3. Mason Campbell (c), 4. Nicholas Cowburn (13. Michael Finlayson 59), 5. Luke Remington, Mitchell Oxborrow, 7. Bobby Russell (12. Radovan Pavicevic 59), 8. Mitch Cooper (14. Nicholas Pepper 60), 9. Kale Bradbery, 10. Marko Jesic, 11. Bernado Ribeiro
