The Newcastle Jets and the Wellington Phoenix have shared the points at Energy Stadium Australia in a hard fought sixth vs seventh placed match.
Wellington came into the match knowing they have never had back to back wins, they line up with four former Jets players in their starting line up -Durrante, Brown, Coveny and Johnson.
The Jets knew they have never won a game without Joel Griffiths, they came into the game without Holland, Hoffman and the Griffith brothers.
It starts brightly for the home team D’Apuzzo is clear on goal in the first minute but Paston saves his low shot.
It takes 17 minutes for Wellington to create their first chance, Tim Brown blasts a curling shot at goal from outside the area and Covic makes a diving save. The visitor’s nearly take the lead again when Smeltz robs Wheelhouse of the ball, he dribbles toward goal and his shot hits the upright and bounces out.
The Jets respond, Hakansson finds Zura running at full speed he finds Song who ties up Thomson but a alert Dodd covers with a last ditch tackle. The Jets are finding their rhythm they put 30 passes together but the move ends with a stray pass.
The fans are trying to get into the game but it’s a bit untidy, just before half time Zura finds a running Thomson on the wing his cross is hit first time by Hakansson on the volley and its just over the cross bar and the fans have something to applaud.
The Jets start the second like they did the first creating a opportunity, with Song firing from outside the area straight at Paston.
On 52 minutes Coveny goes on a 20 meter dribble, he is in the penalty area when fouled by Piorkowski, a clumsy challenge that gives away a penalty and up steps Smeltz to put away the penalty, there is dead silence as he scores 1-0 Wellington.
The Jets step up the pace, A Song free kick finds Elrich who passes to Zura he attempts an over head but is just wide. On 59 minutes Zura heads down a long through ball to the on coming Elrich his 25 meter shot from outside the area is over Paston and under the cross bar its 1-1 and the home crowd go crazy – more with a great sense of relief.
Wellington respond with a clever Smeltz back heel that puts Lockhead away his cross/shot from five meters away is centimetres away from the far upright .
On 68 minutes Thomson’s down field through ball has Zura in the clear he beats Paston to the ball with his head, and the ball goes to Patafta who taps into an empty net its 2-1 Jets.
The Jets appear to wrap up the points but massive storm clouds are gathering in the skies around the ground as Wellington push for a equaliser, a corner has Covic punching straight to Ferrante, his fierce shot is deflected wide. In the final minute Thomson clumsily fouls Gao in the penalty area and in the pouring rain Smeltz converts as the home fans watch in disbelief, it ends 2-2.
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