The Western Sydney Wanderers have got their first home win of the season, knocking over the Newcastle Jets two goals to none on Sunday.
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Final score
Western Sydney Wanderers 2
Newcastle Jets 0
The Western Sydney Wanderers and Newcastle Jets clash this afternoon to close out Round 16 with both sides’ hopes of finals football hanging in the balance. Join The Roar from 5pm (AEDT) for all the live scores, highlights and action.
The Wanderers come into this game with their season reeling after going the last six weeks without a win, pushing them out of top four contention and falling down to eighth.
Their last win came back in Round 9 when they walked all over the Central Coast Mariners in a 4-1 blitz.
Since then they’ve picked up four draws and two defeats, including a tense nil-all draw in the Sydney derby last week against league leaders Sydney FC.
Coach Tony Popovic will be homing the home ground advantage will give them some reprieve, however, they haven’t won at home in their last seven games either.
Since leaving Parramatta stadium the Wanderers no longer have a fortress they can build around and the results have been less than ideal in a season where they’re struggling to fire.
The Jets are working the other way up the ladder at the moment losing just one of their last six games as they try to remedy a slow start to the season.
Newcastle sit just one point behind the Phoenix who are in sixth place at the moment, meaning a win today would throw the Jets up into the finals equation with form behind them.
The Wanderers aren’t out of it though, if they can win by five goals this afternoon then they’ll be able to leapfrog the Jets and Wellington into sixth.
These two sides have met just the once so far this season all the way back in Round 3 when Nigel Boogard and Andrew Hoole both scored in the final ten minutes for the Jets to steal a 2-2 draw.
Team News
The Wanderers welcome back super sub Brendon Santalab from suspension after receiving his first ever A-League red card.
Santalab spent three weeks on the sideline after a nasty incident with Jade North against the Brisbane Roar at the end of December.
Steven Lustica and Terry Antonis have been added to an extended matchday squad, while Abraham Majok has been dropped for the fixture.
For the Jets, they also welcome back a player, this time from injury as Englishman Wayne Brown comes back from a hip injury.
While Brown comes back in, Newcastle will be without Andrew Hoole.
Hoole copped his fifth yellow card of the season during last week’s draw against Perth, meaning he will just miss one week.
Labinot Haliti and Kristian Brymora have also been promoted into the side, but Ben Kantarovski remains out and is expected to return to full fitness next week from his knee injury.
Prediction
The Wanderers have been all over the place this season and can’t seem to find form from anywhere.
They have nine draws but only two wins, showing how they’ve been able to hang with the best sides and stay in the game, but they lack that finishing touch and execution to push them up the ladder.
The Jets are on fire at the moment after a less than ideal start to their campaign and are looking for their third win on the road in four games. They’ll be very tough to beat today for a struggling Western Sydney outfit.
Newcastle to win 1-0
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Attendance: 9,477
Connor Bennett
Editor
Connor Bennett
Editor
FULLTIME And that's all she wrote for Round 16 and it's a winning note for the Wanderers who were in desperate need to end their winless streak through 2017. They now jump over the top of the Jets into seventh place on equal footing with the Wellington Phoenix who sit in the top six on goal difference. It was a disappointing ending to the game for the Jets who fought so hard throughout the match, but it's a deserving win for Tony Popovic and his men. WS Wanderers – 2 Newcastle Jets – 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' +2 Santalab in the middle for the cross!! But it's a bit too high for the little man and he just throws the arms up. He has the game won but he still wants to get his name on the scoreboard. WS Wanderers – 2 Newcastle Jets – 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' +1 The Wanderers pressing right down into the edge of the penalty area now, moving across to the right sideline before the cross is blocked and cleared out of harms way. WS Wanderers – 2 Newcastle Jets – 0
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Editor
90' +3 minutes of stoppage time WS Wanderers – 2 Newcastle Jets – 0
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Editor
89' Newcastle trying to jump on the counter attack here... but Leilei gives it up deep in the Wanderers half and you have to think their ship has sailed this afternoon. WS Wanderers – 2 Newcastle Jets – 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
88' The Wanderers happy to just sit at the back and clear anything that comes their way back up field. Time is the Jets worst enemy right now. WS Wanderers – 2 Newcastle Jets – 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
87' Nabbout finding a bit of extra pace but he's been done in by the two-on-one defensive and he throws the head back in frustration. Newcastle just haven't been able to find that opportunity today. WS Wanderers – 2 Newcastle Jets – 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
86' Western Sydney have plenty of bodies back in defence. They'll be keen to keep the ball out of the penalty area. WS Wanderers – 2 Newcastle Jets – 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
85' Free kick for the Jets in enemy territory and they're rushing around the place like headless chooks at the moment trying to get the ball forward as soon as possible. WS Wanderers – 2 Newcastle Jets – 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
84' SUBSTITUTION Brendan Hamill makes his way onto the park for the final six minutes as Jack Clisby comes off. WS Wanderers – 2 Newcastle Jets – 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
83' Newcastle falling apart now as they get more and more desperate in their plays. Nabbout was nowhere near the long ball towards the box but they went for it anyway. WS Wanderers – 2 Newcastle Jets – 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
82' The Wanderers gearing up for another change on the sideline as keeper Janjetovic takes his time on the goal kick to wind the clock down. WS Wanderers – 2 Newcastle Jets – 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
81' SUBSTITUTION The Jets making another change. Ugarkovic has been brought off in favour of Koutroumbis WS Wanderers – 2 Newcastle Jets – 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
81' Free kick for the Wanderers here just at the top of the Newcastle box and this is a massive chance to put the treble on the scoreboard with time running out. Not a great delivery from Dimas and the pill runs wide. WS Wanderers – 2 Newcastle Jets – 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
80' Into the last ten minutes now and it's Newcastle with it all to do at the moment. Can they pull something out of nowhere? Or will the Wanderers find the net again? WS Wanderers – 2 Newcastle Jets – 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
79' Sloppy ball movement from the Jets and it's hurting them as the Wanderers look downfield for the counter attack. WS Wanderers – 2 Newcastle Jets – 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
78' Newcastle again playing down that right wing, but again the Wanderers defence is pressing hard and forcing them back over halfway. The Jets need to find some kind of momentum here to stay alive. WS Wanderers – 2 Newcastle Jets – 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
76' The Jets moving around the right wing under a bit of pressure but they consolidate possession and move it back over halfway. WS Wanderers – 2 Newcastle Jets – 0