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When is the 2018 A-League Grand Final Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne Victory?

Besart Berisha of the Melbourne Victory. (AAP Image/George Salpigtidis)
5th May, 2018
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The 2018 A-League Grand Final will be played at 7:50pm AEST on Saturday 5 May between the Newcastle Jets and Melbourne Victory at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.

The match represents a chance for Newcastle to record a remarkable turnaround which would see them go from wooden spooners last year to champions in 2018.

They finished second on the A-League table this season behind comfortable premiers Sydney FC, but the Sky Blues have failed to qualify for the Grand Final.

Sydney lost their spot in the decider when they lost to Melbourne Victory last week in one of the most memorable games in A-League history.

Victory were the better team and Sydney’s only scores came from the visitors conceding own goals, but the two sides were left 2-2 until Victory won in extra time.

After losing last year’s grand final on penalties, Victory will be seeing this as a chance to make amends, although they must once again travel to play in the decider.

The two sides have met three times this season with the Newcastle Jets winning two of those three matches. Both of Newcastle’s wins came at home where this match will be played.

Where: McDonald Jones Stadium
When: 7:50pm AEST, Saturday 5 May
TV: One, Fox Sports
Betting: Newcastle Jets $2.50, Melbourne Victory $2.65, Draw $3.50

Referee: Jarred Gillett
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Cream
Assistant Referee 2: Paul Cetrangolo
Fourth Official: Kurt Ams
Fifth Official: Andrew Lindsay
Video Assistant Referee: Craig Zetter

Newcastle Jets squad (two to be omitted)
3.Jason HOFFMAN, 4.Nigel BOOGAARD (c), 6.Steven UGARKOVIC, 7.Dimi PETRATOS, 8.Ronald VARGAS, 9.Roy O’DONOVAN, 11.Patricio RODRIGUEZ, 13.Ivan VUJICA, 16.Nick COWBURN, 17.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI, 18.Johnny KOUTROUMBIS, 19.Kosta PETRATOS, 20.Glen MOSS (Gk), 22.Lachlan JACKSON, 24.Joseph CHAMPNESS, 27.Riley MCGREE, 44.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY, Ivan NECEVSKI (GK)

Melbourne Victory squad (two to be omitted)
1.Matt ACTON (Gk), 6.Leigh BROXHAM, 7.Kenny ATHIU, 8.Besart BERISHA, 9.Kosta BARBAROUSES, 10.James TROISI, 14.Thomas DENG, 16.Josh HOPE, 17.James DONACHIE, 18.Matias SANCHEZ, 19. Pierce WARING, 20.Lawrence THOMAS (Gk), 21.Carl VALERI (c), 22. Stefan NIGRO, 23.Jai INGHAM, 24.Terry ANTONIS, 31.Christian THEOHAROUS, 41.Leroy GEORGE

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Newcastle coach Ernie Merrick:

“I just have never really focused on opposition teams, I’ve never really talked much about them. You have to respect any team that we’re playing in the Grand Final because there’s a reason why they’re in the Grand Final and Victory are a very good team, but we’ll focus on how we play.”

Melbourne Victory coach Kevin Muscat:

“I don’t think I’ve worked with a more resilient group than the one I’ve got at the moment. It was unbelievable what they went through (against Sydney FC) and the performance they put on. I can only imagine how our members and fans felt watching that and the pride that they would have enjoyed and we made a lot of people happy on Saturday night and we certainly look to do that again on Saturday.”

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