Jets Finally Take Off – Sydney Lose their first
By Robert Szomolnoki

A-League Season 2005-06 - Round 3
Sunday 11 September 2005
at EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle

Newcastle United FC 2 (Ante Milicic 5’, Richard Johnson 18’)
defeated
Sydney FC 1 (Dwight Yorke 77')

The Newcastle Jets finally ‘took off’ with their first A-League win defeating Sydney FC 2-1. Ante Milicic and Richard Johnson gave the Newcastle Jets a 2-0 half time lead before substitute Dwight Yorke gave the Sydney side hope with a second half goal in a game that included two red cards and six yellow cards.

It began as early as the 5th min for the Jets with Milicic playing a one-two with Ned Zelic then with Nick Carle, Milicic then cleverly chipped Clint Bolton from close range.

In the 18th min a Carle pass found Milicic whose clever cross found Richard Johnson on the edge of the penalty area his low hard shot along the ground beat Bolton for 2-0.

Both the Newcastle goals came the Sydney FC right hand side and they continued to go forward with Matt Thompson going for a 30 meter run ending in a low shot going just past the far post up right.

In the 31 min Sydney almost pulled one back a Steve Corcia corner was flicked on to Alvin Ceccoli who shot was blocked by Jade North.

The Jets continued with their strong high tempo pressing game that had Sydney continually going backwards or losing possession. In the 40th min a Labinot Haliti long range shot was going under the cross bar until Bolton intervened.

Pierre Littbarski made two late first half substitutions replacing Matt Bingley with Andrew Packer to fix the right hand side defensive problems and had former Newcastle star Robbie Middleby replaced by Dwight Yorke.

The first half finished with a rasping Carle free kick which was well saved by Bolton.

The second half saw Sydney FC keep possession for long periods of play but they were unable to prize open a well organized Jets defence in which Jade North was having a blinder.

In the 47th min a Packer cross saw a Yorke header go just wide of the near post, two minutes later Yorke was clear on goal but his shot was straight at Liam Reddy.

The 54th min saw a Carle through ball for Matt Thompson clear on goal but in his one on one with the goal keeper he just failed to get a final telling shot.

Sydney FC continued to have long periods of possession and this was aided by Reddy’s goal kicks, four of which went directly out of play and many others which went up field to a forward who was marked and easily disposed by three defenders. In the 57th min Sasho Petrovski long range shot from outside the area went along the ground for an easy save, in the 62nd min Zdrillic headed on for Corcia to shot high over the bar and five minutes late a North defensive header stopped Zdrillic.

In the 70th min saw an ugly Corcia foul on Mark Bridge for which he received a Red Card – Pierre Littbarski admitted at the post match press conference ‘it deserved a red’.

The challenge brought players from both teams into a scuffle and Mateo Corbo was Red Carded for his part. Richard Money comment was ‘ I will deal with Corbo’ ‘He was excellent despite his stupidity’.

In the 77th min a loose ball in the area fell to Yorke who controlled it brilliantly and shot low and hard in the corner of the net, this brought a frantic finish to the game in which the Jets gave away possession too easily but Sydney could not find a way through.

In the 82nd min a Yorke free kick at the edge of the area found the wall doing its job and the 85th min saw a Terry Mcflynn shot well wide of the goal from outside the area.

The night ended with the Jets putting everyone behind the ball and a frustrated Sydney side bowing their heads for their first defeat, the final whistle brought wild cheers from the home fans.

What the coaches had to say:

Richard Money: ‘Very happy with first half, great energy, passion, well worth 2-0 lead’. “We gave the people of Newcastle what they deserve’. “Milicic and Carle are of the highest quality in this league’.

Pierre Littbarski: We slept the first 45 mins very well’. ‘Newcastle played a very good high intensity first half’ ‘We started playing in the second half’ ‘Next week we will see Carney play a lot more (game time) ’ ‘ We started Middleby because of his Newcastle background.



A-League Season 2005-06 - Round 3
Sunday 11 September 2005
at EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle


Newcastle United FC 2 (Ante Milicic 5’, Richard Johnson 18’)
defeated
Sydney FC 1 (Dwight Yorke 77')

    Crowd: 9,207

    MATCH STATS:

    Newcastle United FC Jets :
    Players listing:
    1. Liam Reddy, 3. Jade North, 5. Ned Zelic, 7. Richard Johnson, 8. Matthew Thompson (Stuart Musialik (+87'), 9. Ante Milicic (Mark Bridge +61'), 10. Nick Carle, 12. Paul Kohler, 13. Mateo Corbo, 16. Labinot Haliti (Steve Eagleton +72') 22. Allan Picken
    Substitutes not used: 20. Andy Petterson (rgk)

    Coach: Richard Money

    Yellow Cards: Jade North 37', Mateo Corbo 39', Stuart Musialik 90'
    Red Cards: Mateo Corbo 70'

    Sydney FC :
    Players listing:
    1 Clint Bolton, 2 Iain Fyfe, 3. Alvin Ceccoli, 4. Mark Rudan, 6. Ufuk Talay (David Carney +75'), 7. Robbie Middleby (Dwight Yorke +44'), 8. Matt Bingley (Andrew Packer +41'), 9. David Zdrillic, 10. Steve Corica, 11. Saso Petrovski, 15. Terry McFlynn
    Substitutes not used: 20.Justin Pasfield (rgk)

    Coach: Pierre Littbarski

    Yellow Cards: Robbie Middleby 12', Saso Petrovski 55', Mark Rudan 78'
    Red Cards: Steve Corica 70'

    Referee: Matthew Breeze 7/10

    Pitch rating: 8/10

    Game rating: 8/10

    Best Players :

    3. Nick Carle (NUJ)
    2. Jade North (NUJ)
    1. Matt Thompson (NUJ)

    Match Report by Robert Szomolnoki

 

Disclaimer: The content of this report is the responsibility of the writer. Stats are either as recorded by the writer at the game, or as supplied by FFA, or a mixture - no responsibility can be taken for their compete accuracy although we do strive for that. FFA has not this season accredited any Photographers for BOTN, so any photos used here, if unattributed, are as supplied by FFA and used by permission.

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