Newcastle Jets
0
Match Complete
Melbourne City FC
4
92' | N. Atkinson | |||
92' | T. Glover | |||
86' | C. Good | |||
59' | J. Maclaren | |||
47' | M. Cabrera | |||
L. Jackson | 42' | |||
28' | A. Luna | |||
23' | D. Genreau | |||
3' | A. Luna |
13 | Shots | 21 | ||
6 | On Target | 8 | ||
4 | Fouls | 10 | ||
7 | Corners | 4 | ||
0 | Offsides | 1 | ||
0 | Red Cards | 0 | ||
1 | Yellow Cards | 4 |
Melbourne City were far too classy away from home against the Newcastle Jets and were deserved winners.
At times it was like a training drill for City, especially up forward where Newcastle’s back four seemed slow, out of position and woefully out of touch.
Four classy goals were the difference tonight as Adrian Luna, Javier Cabrera and Jamie Maclaren all scored.
Coach Erick Mombaerts will be especially pleased with the form of Luna and Cabrera who were exceptional all night, linking expertly with Maclaren to terrorise the Jets down the right-hand side of their attack.
Despite the Jets having slightly more of the ball (53%), City had 21 shots to Newcastle’s 13 with eight on target to the Jets’ six.
While that might suggest a closer result, the Jets shots were low impact, low percentage or low output.
Tom Glover on debut made a couple of sharp saves but was never really tested.
The Jets never really found a route to goal that they could rely on to threaten City. They often looked for a long ball into space, but they lacked the skill and touch of a Luna or Cabrera to turn those balls out wide into telling crosses.
This game very much was a tale of two squads. Where City’s fourth or fifth best-paid players Luna and Cabrera dominated and looked top shelf, Newcastle had players like Angus Thurgate and Nick Fitzgerald in similar positions who were pedestrian and offered no final ball.
Too much for Newcastle is asked of Dimi Petratos, and too much expected of Jason Hoffman who is hard-working and conscientious, but a trier at best.
Final score
Newcastle Jets 0
Melbourne City 4
Melbourne City FC are wobbling near the top of the A-League ladder and need a result away against the Newcastle Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 6:30pm (AEDT).
Melbourne City have lost twice in three games to fall behind runaway league leaders Sydney FC. Last week’s 3-0 defeat at home to Perth punctured both their points tally and their pride, giving up a goal to Bruno Fornaroli on his return to AAMI Park. Socceroo striker Jamie Maclaren also came up short for the first time this season, bringing to an end his run of nine goals from consecutive games in the league.
A loss to Perth is no great A-League shame, although the nature of the defeat will concern manager Erick Mombaerts. On paper, the stats were very Mombaerts-friendly; keeping the ball (62 per cent) and creating opportunities (13 shots to 10) both inside and outside the box. However, getting only two on target while allowing Perth to convert all three of their shots on target (albeit one was an own goal) isn’t a recipe for success.
As the season progresses, there are also more and more questions being asked of City’s imports – namely Craig Noone. One goal and one assist from eight games is a mediocre return for a key player on good money. For context, it’s the same output that youngster Connor Metcalfe has provided so far, from a player with 364 fewer league games of experience. While City will be rapt with Metcalfe’s output this season, they need more from Noone.
Newcastle’s season has been a battle so far, and they find themselves in ninth place with only two wins. Those have come in the last three matches, with their last fixture a loss away to Adelaide courtesy of a late James Troisi winner.
The Jets seem to have turned a corner after a poor start to the season, and it has come largely from the core of the side that was in place last season. Despite the loss to Adelaide, Newcastle were the better side for long periods and will be disappointed to have taken no points back to the Hunter. They had more ball, a massive number of shots (31 to 13, including six on target), but just couldn’t find the back of the net more than once.
Ernie Merrick’s men have regressed since their 17-18 grand final berth, and it’s their inability to find high performing marquee players which is stunting their finals ambitions. Wes Hoolahan did his knee before the season started, Panamanian striker Abdiel Arroyo isn’t pulling up trees (one goal in five appearances) and last season’s import Jair was an unmitigated failure.
The Jets are a good team with enough talent to compete but seriously lack a flourish that import players are meant to provide. Against an even better Melbourne City they need a lot to go their way tonight at home – including Noone to continue his poor run of form.
Prediction
Melbourne City should win, but their defence is porous (they’ve conceded the second-most goals in the league so far) and Newcastle will get chances in this game. However, the Jets are second-bottom for goals scored this season, so expect a lot of shots but (probably) not a lot of goals.
Newcastle Jets 1-2 Melbourne City
Join The Roar for live scores of this A-League clash between Melbourne City and the Newcastle Jets from 6:30pm (AEDT).
Kick-off: 6:30pm (AEDT)
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
TV: Fox Sports
Online: Kayo Sports, Foxtel, My Football Live app
Odds: Melbourne City $2.40, Newcastle $2.70, draw $3.75
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
Thanks for your time tonight guys. A good night for Melbourne City - they will certainly be favourites in next week's derby and probably pretty comfortably. For Newcastle? Well they'll just have to soldier on. Have a great night all and try not to think too much about the start of a new work week tomorrow!
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
MATCH REPORT. Melbourne City were far too classy tonight against the Newcastle Jets and were deserved winners tonight finding 4 goals to Newcastle’s none. At times it was like a training drill for City, especially up forward where Newcastle’s back 4 seemed slow, out of position and woefully out of touch. 4 classy goals were the difference tonight as Luna (twice), Cabrera and Maclaren all found the going extremely easy at times. Coach Erick Mombaerts will be especially pleased with the form of Luna and Cabrera who were exceptional all night, linking expertly with Maclaren to terrorise the Jets down the right-hand side of their attack. What makes this City side vastly more dangerous than last season’s incarnation is their speed in moving the ball into attack. All night they dared to play the ball quickly over the middle third into foot or space to allow the pace of Maclaren and smarts of Luna and Cabrera to beat their Jets opponents 1 on 1. On the stats sheet the domination was complete. Despite giving the Jets lightly more of the ball (53%), City had 21 shots to Newcastle’s 13 with 8 on target to the Jets’ 6. While that might suggest a closer result, the Jets shots were low impact, low percentage or low output. Glover on debut made a couple of sharp saves but was never really tested. Indeed, the Jets never really found a route to goal that they could rely on to threaten the City goal. Often they too looked for a long ball into space, but they lacked the skill and touch of a Luna or Cabrera to turn those balls out wide into telling crosses. This game very much was a tale of two squads. Where City’s 4th or 5th best paid players Luna and Cabrera dominated and looked top shelf, Newcastle had players like Thurgate and Fitzgerald in similar positions who were pedestrian and offered no final ball. Too much for Newcastle is asked of Dimi Petratos, and too much expected of Jason Hoffman who is hard-working and conscientious, but a trier at best. MAN OF THE MATCH could really very easily go to any of the 3 scorers. Cabrera was immense but was taken off early, and Maclaren was excellent throughout in his approach play and could have potentially had more up forward. Let’s give it to Luna, who scored two high class goals and was busy throughout.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
OK, so this was the practise game ahead of the Derby and against Sydney.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
It was 2 first half goals from Adrian Luna, who was joined quickly by compatriot Cabrera at the start of the second before they were joined by Jamie Maclaren on the scoresheet late on.
92'
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
FULL TIME. City in a canter, winning this one 4-0
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
Time ticks away here, and it's been all too simple for Melbourne City...
92'
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
90+1' - A fine SAVE/INTERCEPTION from Glover there from Ugarkovic's sharply taken cross. Glover dived out and got a strong right palm on it to knock it out of harms way | Jets 0 - City 4
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
We'll have 3 ADDITIONAL MINUTES
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
89' - OFF THE UPRIGHT from Atkinson! Fantastic strike from 20 yards that was oh so close! He ran about 40 yards there as Jets players fell over around him like lemmings, and got to the D and thought.. why not? That run deserved a goal I reckon | Jets 0 - City 4
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Do the Jets have a defence????
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
87' - SAVED from Berenguer. He had a lot more time there, the Frenchman. He wriggled into space at the top of the box and took the shot early, despite the defenders all mostly peeling off him. He probably could have settled a little and picked his spot a little better than weakly straight at Moss | Jets 0 - City 4
86'
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
85' - SHOT BLOCKED from Maclaren. Another ball over the top allows him to find space and he peels off his defender but can't quite work his feet out and has to take a touch back onto his right allowing the Jets to close him down | Jets 0 - City 4
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
82' - Ridenton gets his head on low ball out from wide on the left, but he can only find the side netting. He's been very busy since coming on. | Jets 0 - City 4
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
81' - Petratos with a chance inside the D, but he cuts back on the left and just blasts it OVER THE BAR | Jets 0 - City 4
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
80' - SAVED by Moss from a decent hit by Wales. Another quick ball over the top and Wales takes it, drives down the channel and tries to angle it into the back post but the angle isn't precise enough, and Moss gets down to take it | Jets 0 - City 4
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
77' - Glover off his line quickly to COLLECT Ugarkovic's optimisitic cross from the right looking for Hoffman making a back post run. It's an easy one for Glover | Jets 0 - City 4
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
76' - City makes their final change. Noone (indeed) is taken OFF, and Atkinson is ON | Jets 0 - City 4