The Newcastle Jets play their first home game for the season against the Perth Glory, who suffered an opening-round loss. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 5pm (AEDT).
For Newcastle, the theme this week will be BB King’s Let the Good Times Roll, after their historic 5-1 victory over the Mariners.
While it is only round 2, for the Jets, the completion of the opening round was their second time atop the A-League table in the club’s history. However, their first time on top was last season, and we know how that turned out for the Novocastrians.
Perth were very spirited against the Wanderers, and might feel slightly aggrieved to have come away from that game with nothing to show for it. Travel may be a factor, but when is travel not a factor for the Glory, who again find themselves on the eastern seaboard for the second Sunday in a row.
The main man to watch will be Rory O’Donovan. He was involved in all five of Newcastle’s strikes against the Mariners (three goals, two assists), and he will be eager to not only keep his own form going, but he should be just as hungry to put on a show for his new home fans.
Also on a hot-streak, the Ronaldo-imitating Dimi Petratos (both in number and goal celebration), who has talked up his game during the week of more to come.
For Perth, the more things change, the more they stay the same, with Castro again showing his class against Western Sydney.
The Western Australians will be buoyed by another productive performance from the Spanish maestro, and if he can find his groove, the Jets will find the going tough. It wouldn’t surprise to see Adam Taggart get on the scoresheet once again, in front of his old home crowd.
It’s the battle of Britain in the coaches’ boxes, and while Kenny Lowe will hope that he does not enter round 3 without a point, Ernie Merrick will be eager to follow up with a spectacular opening 3 points, and make that tally 6.
Prediction
The key for this match is how the Jets handle expectation.
The Jets are good at springing the occasional surprise (see their 4-0 win over Brisbane last year), but how will they stand up when expected to.
The Jets will be hoping that a big turnover of staff in the off-season will mean they won’t be one-round wonders. Perth will not be easy, but it really should be home field advantage that gets the Jets home.
Curiously, the team that beat Perth in round 1 (WSW) drew 2-all with the team thumped by Newcastle in round 1 (Central Coast) overnight. So form could mean everything, or this early on, it could mean absolutely nothing.
Newcastle 2-0.
perry cox
Roar Guru
Regarding the crowd figure, I'm getting reports that McDonald Jone Stadium announced a crowd figure of only 14,633, but the official A-League website has stated my earlier number of 16,633. No idea what's going on there.
perry cox
Roar Guru
As a football fan, I agree. As a Jets fan though ...
perry cox
Roar Guru
Perth will head back to WA after nabbing a late 2-all draw against Newcastle, or if they are glass half-empty types, thinking about the two or three one on ones they did not finish that could have delivered a vital away win. Undermanned and well-travelled, Perth were under early home team pressure, but still able to grab an early goal. The first half saw both sides share the goals. Perth kept peppering the Jets goal with several coners, in fact, managing to open the scoring shortly after their first of the game. Adam Taggart with a clinical and instinctual finish from inside the six yard box. With that initial success, and the abundance of corners to follow, Perth would have thought they would add to their haul. But the Jets, and their defence in particular, grew in confidence. The front third for the Jets strung several passes together, as Vargas settled nicely into the game, which saw Nabbout (having a standout performance) cross into a sliding O'Donovan to score in front of his new home fans. The second half found Newcastle come out strong, and pressing their advantage. O'Donovan was industrious and energetic, and while Newcastle pressed, they got their just-rewards through a Petratos freekick, a Topor-Stanley header, and a Kantarovski finish. Perth were on the back foot, as the Jets looked to finish the game, and going into the last ten minutes at 2-1, Perth likely began to think to themselves that despite the possession and field advantage to the Jets, there was only one goal the difference. Castro seemed to tire, and Harold seemed to struggle to get into the game, but it took one cross, and one header from Taggart, a double against his former home crowd, to give Perth a draw, and maintain their healthy record against Newcastle. 2-all the final score, with Vargas a standout. Newcastle will rue failing to close out the game, and Perth will head into round 3, looking to hope that home field will deliver them a first up win for the season. A quality game that was always in the balance, and both teams will now look to the rest of the season feeling confident. The question now for Newcastle will be how do they bounce back from the disappointment of failing to win, and can Perth build on a performance where they stole a point.
Kangajets
Guest
Very good game
perry cox
Roar Guru
FULL TIME Newcastle 2 Perth 2 Jets with the last attack, but it fizzled to nothing. The referee blows his whistle. Perth have stolen a point there, and all credit to them.
perry cox
Roar Guru
95' Newcastle 2 Perth 2 This will likely be the last attack of the game, but Petratos can't control it, and it goes out for a Perth throw in. We are at the end of stoppage time, and will wait for the referee's whistle.
perry cox
Roar Guru
94' Newcastle 2 Perth 2 Jets have a free just outside the area, after a soft free given away by Taggart. Petratos over the ball, but a couple of bobbly headers, and Reddy has the ball. Champness also picked up a yellow for his previous foul.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Can one team pinch it here?
Stuart Thomas
Expert
What a header from Taggart.....brilliant goal.
perry cox
Roar Guru
92' Newcastle 2 Perth 2 AND RIGHT ON QUEUE TAGGART HEADS THE EQUALISER Harold crosses it in to Taggart, who I'm pretty sure has used only his second touch to score his second goal. And the Jets have paid for failing to finish the game.
perry cox
Roar Guru
90' Newcastle 2 Perth 1 Jets win a thrown in on the right on the attack, great chase by Champness. Georgievski throws it in, but the Jets are manhandled off the ball. Perth try to break, but Georgievski won't be denied, but Champness concedes the free for Perth to clear. And we will see FIVE minutes of stoppage time
perry cox
Roar Guru
89' Newcastle 2 Perth 1 And Harold gets a yellow for diving in the area. I'll leave that for others to comment on, but I would imagine Jets fans were doing an Ernie Merrick and thinking: here we go again.
perry cox
Roar Guru
88' Newcastle 2 Perth 1 Jets have a corner, and Boogard flew in at the back past, but Perth pass it out.
perry cox
Roar Guru
Duncan almost man of the match today with his two critical saves. The outfielders will get the attention, but Duncan is the reason the Jets aren't down 3-2.
perry cox
Roar Guru
86' Newcastle 2 Perth 1 A cagey pall has fallen on McDonald Jones Stadium. Perth are attacking, but again at that methodical pace. Castro finally puts a foot wrong, and crosses that into the northern hill. Duncan will take his time with the goalkick here. The seconds are ticking away for Perth. Five to go, plus stoppage.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Taggart had the equaliser!!!!!! Great save.
perry cox
Roar Guru
They should. First home game for the reigning champs. You'd hope for 20,000+.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Hang in there Kanga, they'll bring it home from here.....surely.
perry cox
Roar Guru
83' Newcastle 2 Perth 1 Andy Keogh fails to control a long ball on the left, and it bounces out for a Jets throw in. That play really sums up his afternoon so far. He follows it up with a leave thinking he was offside, as the ball dribbles for a goal kick. Perfect reflection of Andy's afternoon in those two plays.
perry cox
Roar Guru
As a nervous Jets follower, it's actually been a pleasure to call Stuart. Good play from both sides, but as Friday night showed, the full 90 always tells the story.