Brisbane Roar Youth won its second match in a row, coming from a goal down to defeat Newcastle Jets Youth 2-1 at Ballymore Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
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Jets’ striker Mirjan Pavlovic put the visitors in front mid-way through the first half but as the teams emerged from the break Brisbane lifted with over-age inclusion Tim Smits netting a brace, the winner coming ten minutes from time with a superb strike from outside the area.
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After losing five matches in a row Brisbane bounced back last week defeating the bottom placed AIS 2-0 in Canberra. The Jets had beaten the Roar twice this season but Brisbane continued its run of good form with attacking-midfielder Luke Brattan playing an instrumental role for the home side.
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Brattan had the first chance of the match for Brisbane Youth when he cut in from the left beating Jets right-back Jon Griffiths, as space opened up at the top of the area Brattan curled with his right but the shot didn’t have enough power to beat Dion Shaw in goal.
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In the same play the Jets then broke through the midfield with forward Pavlovic streaming into the box. After being corralled by the Roar defence James Virgili provided some support to Pavlovic who played a neat back-heel to the No. 9 but with a great opportunity to score Virgili blazed his shot over.
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Pavlovic was again provider a short-time later when he set up Brodie Mooy at the top of the box. Mooy’s shot was low, hard and on target but it took a deflection from a Roar player and skied just over the bar.
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With the match starting in a flurry Brisbane’s Tim Smits then hit the cross-bar in 9th minute after a well whipped in cross from the flag by Brattan.
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It was Newcastle’s turn next when Jesse Pinto found some space in the area ten minutes later. With plenty to aim at, Pinto pulled the trigger but Roar defender Michael Ryan managed to get his foot to the ball just in time and the ball spun out for a corner.
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The Jets’ pressure paid off as Pinto’s cross from the flag the second time around found Pavlovic. The striker’s un-marked run allowed him to send a powerful header into the net and opening up the score in the 21st minute.
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Just on the half-hour mark Virgili sprung the off-side trap and went one-on-one with Roar ‘keeper Mathew Action. Virgili couldn’t hold his composure as he looked to curl his shot around Action, the ball going well wide of the upright.
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Returning from the break Roar midfielder Antony Schiavo thought his deflected shot was in after unleashing from the top of the box, but the ball went inches wide of Shaw’s left upright.
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12 minutes in Pavlovic began a move by playing Virgili out on the right, the Jets attacking midfielder held the ball up well and his cross returned the ball back to Pavlovic who chested down in the box but volleyed just over.
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Brisbane was then awarded a free-kick 20-yards from the Jets goal, Brattan stepped up, his first shot rebounding off the wall and straight back to him. On the second attempt he fired low through a maze of shirts but Shaw was equal to it diving low to his left and making the save.
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After working hard in the heat the Roar Youth found it’s equaliser in the 73rd minute through Smits. After winning a corner the ball fell wide to Daniel Bowels who put in a high cross from the right and as the ball fell towards the six-yard area Smits climbed the highest heading past Shaw.
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As momentum swung Brisbane’s way, Smits then drove home the winner. Dispossessing Jets substitute Umut Tokdogan at the edge of the area Smits took a touch and fired low into the bottom left hand corner past an out-stretched Shaw, the effort enough to secure Brisbane all three points.
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Brisbane Roar Youth – 2
 (Smits,73’/81′)
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Newcastle Jets Youth – 1
 (Pavlovic, 21′)
 @ Ballymore Stadium
