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Western Sydney Wanderers FC
1
Match Complete
Newcastle Jets
5
| M. Duke |  | 69' | ||
| 59' | | R. O'Donovan | ||
| 54' |  | R. Vargas | ||
| 49' | | M. Ridenton | ||
| 47' | | R. O'Donovan | ||
| 22' | | J. Hoffman | ||
| 18' | | D. Petratos |
| 19 | Shots | 19 | ||
| 7 | On Target | 9 | ||
| 15 | Fouls | 8 | ||
| 9 | Corners | 5 | ||
| 3 | Offsides | 1 | ||
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 | ||
| 0 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
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The not-yet-relegation battles continue on Friday nights in 2019, as the Western Sydney Wanderers are back at home taking on the Newcastle Jets, in Round 17 of the A-League at ANZ Stadium at 7:50pm (AEST). Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match.
Wanderers’ coach Markus Babbel has seen a lot in his career as a player and manager. Most notably he was on the pitch with Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final when Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored in injury time to arrest the cup for Manchester United.
But it was last week’s Wanderers result against Brisbane that finally has entitled him to say “I’ve seen it all”.
Only keeper Vedren Janjetovic can know what was going through his head when he at the last second, for no earthly reason, decided to clumsily keep a certain goal-kick in play and then nudging it out for a Brisbane corner.
Sure enough, Adam Taggart soared over his opponents to nod in the equaliser with the last touch of the game to continue Babbel and the Wanderers torment.
This week teammates, and the coach himself to an extent, have supported Janjetovic – pointing out that their poor final 30 minutes of play allowed Brisbane to get a head of steam up and get back into the game.
Indeed, Babbel may genuinely be heartened by the Wanderers first half where they dominated the Roar through the attacking quartet of Bonevacia, Riera, Yeboah and Kamau.
But this week Markus Babbel may also have looked at the recent management form of his tormentor in 1999, Solskjaer, and wondered when it will be his turn for some good luck.
The Wanderers have lost every game in 2019 and have found heartbreaking and laughable ways to give up leads.
There is some good news at selection. Water carrier Keanu Baccus returns from suspension, while Kwame Yeboah – a second-half casualty in the Roar draw – seems to have survived his injury scare to line-up this week.
Socceroo Josh Risdon also returns to the squad, although given his injury with the national team it’s unclear what involvement he will have in this game.
Newcastle is also able to field a full strength team, with key players Ronnie Vargas and Dimi Petratos both cleared of injury.
Veteran Ben Kantarovski returns to the team to stiffen the midfield, while talented youngsters Nick Cowburn and Johnny Koutroumbis also return to add depth to the Jets wide spaces.
The Jets have been the biggest disappointment of this A-League season, sitting well adrift of the finals in seventh, 11 points off wisth with largely the same grand final losing squad.
Last week they were beaten comfortably by ladder leaders Perth Glory to underline how far they are off last year’s pace.
Playmaker Dimi Petratos continues to try and make things happen for the Jets, but he has lacked the support staff and solidity in defence that typified the Jets last season.
Brazilian import Jair has not worked out, and their veteran back four have looked slow and past their prime.
Newcastle has scored the fewest goals of all teams this season, but against the porous Wanderers defence (who have conceded the second most) they will be hoping that Hoffman, O’Donovan and Jair can finally find some form.
Prediction
Newcastle is fielding a strong team in this game and should – on paper – have the edge.
However the Wanderers have had pockets of excellence in recent weeks and surely, surely are due for some good luck.
New signing Kwame Yeboah has been a revelation since joining the Wanderers, having four goal involvements in four games (two goals and two assists) and his pace and flair could terrorise the venerable Jets defence.
Going out on a limb, the Wanderers are due for 3 points in this game.
Western Sydney Wanderers 2 – Newcastle Jets 1
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