After a slow start, the game between Melbourne Victory and Newcastle Jets came to life with three goals in ten minutes. Besart Berisha levelled the scores after the break and the match ended in a stalemate.
The Newcastle Jets will be looking to register their first win of the 2014/15 A-League season when they play host to Melbourne Victory on Saturday afternoon.
After four rounds Melbourne Victory are sitting pretty on top of the A-League ladder. They enter Round 5 with three wins and a draw (equal with Sydney FC and Adelaide United), but sit top thanks to their impressive early season goal difference of +8.
Victory have sent home 12 goals in their opening four fixtures and will be confident of sending at least a couple past a struggling Jets side today.
Newcastle enter the match in eighth spot having failed to register a win (and only managing a single draw – which came against the lowly placed Melbourne City) in their four fixtures so far this season.
Sadly, eighth spot is also slightly inflated due to the Wanderers and Roar currently occupying 9th and 10th – both with missed fixtures to make up.
Once last year’s finalists kick into gear, the Jets are first in line to occupy the bottom of the table.
Victory’s only trip so far this season yielded a 1-1 draw against Adelaide United, so they will be keen to show the competition that they are a force away from home.
But the Jets will also be confident they can cause an upset, finally arriving at their first home game of the season.
It has been a less than ideal start for the Jets, traveling to Melbourne, Perth and Wellington in the first month of competition. Fans and players alike will be hoping the fatigue of travel is a major factor in their disappointing start.
A return to Hunter Stadium, and with a home crowd on hand, the Jets could be placed to rattle the League’s current leader and get their campaign on track.
But with potent striker, Besart Berisha, returning from injury for Melbourne, it is hard to image them failing to grind out a win.
Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 5:00pm (AEDT). If you are following the action live, be sure to share your thoughts on the match in the comments below.
Griffo
Roar Guru
While a point is useful, we've got to stop letting in soft goals...
Griffo
Roar Guru
Club issues aside, the entire upper Eastern stand is closed for the season so you either had to fill in the lower Eastern (shown on TV, in the sun) or the allocations in upper Western. Worse game time slot is 3pm Sundays...
jamesb
Guest
I thought it was a good game especially when you consider the game started at 5pm.
Crashy
Guest
I don't think the crowd was that small. Maybe 5k? -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
As an MVFC fan, I don't think this is a missed opportunity. No idea why, but MVFC have a very poor record at Newcastle. If we'd been leading 2-nil & finished 2-2, I'd be disappointed we dropped a point. We saved a point tonight - lads showed great mental character.
AZ_RBB
Guest
I think a lot of the crowd would have been on the camera side and in a 33k seat stadium, anything below 15k will look terrible. A lot of people on social media are complaining about the quality of the game. I found it somewhat entertaining. Yes, the pitch was laughable but the players did well considering.
Zee
Roar Guru
11000? Serious? Ha, someone must've happy counted the crowd.
jamesb
Guest
Jaliens looks like a 1970s movie star!
Zee
Roar Guru
FT JETS 2 VIC 2 Ends in a stalemate. Think its a massied opp more for Vic than the Jets. MOTM - ?
jamesb
Guest
Jets and Victory have a drawski.
Zee
Roar Guru
'94 Vic throwing evrything at the Jets. Still 2-2
Zee
Roar Guru
'93 Ouch flores deks Barbarousis with a studs up challenge. Things heat up, the former vic man is cautioned by Barba looks in a bit of agony 2-2
Zee
Roar Guru
'91 these last few mins are an reinactment of ring around the rosie. Possesion cant be held.
jamesb
Guest
Crowd 11,884. Sort of hoping for the Jets to get a late goal. It'd be good for their confidence.
Zee
Roar Guru
'90 Vict on the counter but they make a mess of their attack. 4mins of time added
Zee
Roar Guru
88 MV in possesion, they lose it .. jets looks like they will go on the xountwr but long ball is hunted down by n.Coe. Jets in possession again.. but Coe reclaims it again. 2-2
Zee
Roar Guru
'80 MV have lifted their game they are throwing everything @ the jets. I smell a goal 2-2
Zee
Roar Guru
'77 MV looks the side the steal this one. More subs are made... Mahazi replaces Leijer for MV ... while Griffiths comes off for Hoole. still 2-2f
Zee
Roar Guru
'70 Another MV sub Berisha comes off for Archie T
Zee
Roar Guru
'65 Allan Welsh Yellow carded for a stupid foul 2-2