Jets stun City

Lachlan Rose became Newcastle’s hero in Melbourne. 

Up against the run of play for a majority of the game.  The Jets survived wave after wave of citizens attacks before Rose’s 69th minute goal turned the game on it’s head. 

However, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for the Jets. The game was delayed for 64 minutes due to a lightning strike near AAMI Park.  The game was stopped in the 14th minute as both teams were trying to work each other out, and a scrappy game to that point was halted. 

City had the slight advantage off the restart, with chances starting to come.

As the half-an-hour mark came and went, the cards started flying. Daniel Wilmering ended up in the book for a tangle of legs, while Max Caputo received a yellow because of his wayward arm.

Aside from goal scorer Rose, the other who will take the plaudits of the Newcastle fans would be Noah James. James had made three saves inside the first 40 minutes that had saved Newcastle from being behind.

James’ teammates weren’t making it easy for him, often giving the ball away in dangerous areas.

Unfortunately for City, despite having the most chances. Wave after wave of City attack came and went. Shots to Steven Ugarkovic and Max Caputo went close, but the score reminded nil-nil at the break.

When the second half resumed, so did normal service for Melbourne City.

Nathaniel Atkinson’s cross deserved a finish, but much like the first half, no one was there to drive it home. Moments later, Matthew Leckie cut inside and again called Noah James back into action, who at that point must have thought he was due overtime.

When Kai Trewin made a mistake, he opened the door for Lachlan Rose to close in on goal. This called Patrick Peach into action for one of the only times tonight as he was able clear the ball up and into the stands of AAMI Park.

In the 66th minute, Noah James was eventually beaten. Atkinson got a shot away, and as it powered toward the back post Phillip Cancar got the ball away, and with it kept the nil-nil socre line.

Trewin was next up, he headed the ball toward the post, before James saved again. The ball fell to Harry Politidis, where the Noah James shaped wall continued to save shots.

Then Lachlan Rose and his Jets took the lead, through an end-to-end goal as the away fans erupted.   

The next twenty minutes saw Newcastle turn the throttle right off, as the Jets sat back and defended for their lives.  The Jets would have to deal with nearly 10 shots, and deal with they did.  

Newcastle is now undefeated in seven games, the longest run in the last two decades for the Jets.  It was also the first time since 2015 since City had suffered a defeat in Melbourne to the New South Wales based outfit. 

The win keeps Newcastle’s finals hopes alive, as they sit six points from the top six, while City will feel they let one slip.