Newcastle United Jets struck in the dying seconds to clutch a draw against the Glory at Perth Oval. Jets’ captain Jade North used his minimal pace advantage over a sluggish Glory backline to ground a shot past keeper Frank Juric in the 95th minute.

Newcastle did its best to lose the match after twice giving up the lead – the second time resulting in the team falling behind in the 77th minute. But the scoreboard reflected the game-play at the end of the night, after both teams worked hard to try and take the three points.

The visitors kicked off on a chilly Perth night, but the breeze didn’t seem to fluster either team as both managed some dangerous attacks in the opening 10 minutes.

Glory coach, Dave Mitchell, wasted no time in putting his new acquisitions to the test with Brazilian Amaral, Ivory Coast import Eugene Dadi and Argentinean Adrian Trinidad all in the starting 11.

Dadi and Trinidad combined on several attacks early to shake the Newcastle defence but were unable to get the better of goalkeeper Ante Covic. After surviving an early header, Newcastle went on the offensive but stumbled at the penultimate stage when Joel Griffiths sprayed a strike to the right – missing everything.

There were positive signs for Perth Glory as they quickly established control of the game and looked for the opening goal. A cross by Trinidad saw an airborne Dadi attempt to bicycle-kick his way onto the score card but again, Jet’s keeper Covic was equal to the challenge, keeping the scores level.

Perth carried momentum and looked like scoring at any moment until Joel Griffiths was brought down just outside the box by Dino Djulbic.

In what was a controversial call (Griffiths looked to be fouled outside the ‘18-yard’ box but his momentum carried him inside), referee Craig Zetter pointed to the spot and in the 19th minute Newcastle United opened the scoring.

Griffiths sold Glory keeper Juric the dummy, sending him diving right before casually placing the ball in the bottom-left corner for a 0-1 lead. It may have been a questionable call but it was enough to breathe life into the reigning premiers.

It seemed a new tactic had been called by Newcastle coach Gary van Egmond – shut down Amaral. The Glory’s new ‘go-to’ midfielder seemed unable to find space. Perth did its best to hang on to a new-look Newcastle and in the 34th minute built a threatening attack out of Trinidad, Dadi and Pellegrino – a mistimed strike by Pellegrino was made to look good as it was diverted out of play for a Glory corner.

With a perfectly executed cross by Mark Lee, returning Olyroo Nikolai Topor-Stanley got a header but not before Trinidad was fouled by Adam Griffiths and for the second time, referee Zetter pointed to the spot.

Karma wielded its fist and the Argentinean Trinidad slotted the home-side’s first goal of the match to bring scores level at 1-1. The roaring crowd was almost forced to tears as Newcastle formed a quick attack on the restart and the Glory’s own Djulbic did his best to put the visitors back in front with a poor clearance that almost ended in an own-goal.

The rest of the half was played out with the momentum in Perth’s corner but attacks by Jin-Hyung Song and Tarek Elrich of the Jets made sure the home-side was awake.

A final shot by James Holland from the top of the 18-yard box was blocked by the Glory defenders to finish the first half 1-1. The second half opened with both teams looking sluggish.

The first offensive attempt was made by Song with a long right-to-left cross into the Glory box. Juric had his measure though and took the ball with a strong hold to the chest.

But it didn’t take long for Newcastle to regroup and in the 51st minute, Song took advantage of a J. Griffiths-struck ball that ricocheted off Glory captain Jamie Coyne.

Song connected with the airborne ball – bouncing it over a grounded Juric and the Jets retook the lead 1-2.

Worry struck again for the home-side when an over-zealous Coyne took down Edmundo Zura a short time later, giving the striker a dead-ball about 30ft from goal.

The Glory’s wall was impenetrable though and the strike floated harmlessly away.

Perth sensed the time to attack and quickly went on the offensive.

Trinidad edged his way toward the Newcastle net before placing the ball at the feet of fellow newcomer Amaral.

With his first cross of the game, Amaral made a perfect delivery to a waiting Dadi who saw the equaliser headed into the bottom left corner in the 56th minute.

The Jets were quick to respond with Joel Griffiths tearing down the centre of the pitch in search of his second goal.

But Glory keeper Juric made a well-timed advance on the attacker to minimise the angle and with a quick drop, kept the scores level at 2-2.

Newcastle faltered under the pressure of a Glory that found its attack and within five minutes the visitors had clocked up three yellow-cards. A. Griffiths, North and Zura were all recipients due to illegal contact.

Holland and Song again combined for the Jets but were unable to put a mark on the sheet, while Trinidad, Amaral and Pellegrino did the same for Perth before sending one over the woodwork in the 77th minute.

The breakthrough came in the 79th minute when youngster Nikita Rukavytsya subbed on for Mark Lee.

In what is now a trait of Rukavytsya, the 21-year-old gained position within minutes of coming on and streamed down the left wing to slip a ground-ball past Covic into the bottom-left corner, giving the Glory a lead of 3-2.

With four minutes of injury time, the question was whether the Perth Glory remembered how to win – and in the final seconds of the match Jade North answered that question for them.

The final score levelled at 3-3.

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Newcastle and Perth Glory have played out a 1-1 draw in Mandurah, Western Australia. Both teams were evenly matched throughout the entire ninety minutes of the first game of the 2008 Pre-Season Cup.

The Glory opened the scoring thanks to an 11th minute penalty to new recruit Adrian Trinidad.

The Jets leveled matters on 35 minutes through Noel Spencer, who was Captain on the night. Spencer finished from a well taken Jets corner.

The sides went into the half time break at 1-1, and neither side was able to make the breakthrough in the second half. Fine saves by Ante Covic and his counterpart Jason Petkovic ensured that both teams came away with one point.

Newcastle Jets will be hoping to hit some much needed form at Mandurah’s Hyundai Stadium on Saturday when they take on Perth Glory in their first match of the 2008 A-League pre-season cup.

The Jets line-up for the match is very different to that which took the club to last season’s grand final and new signings Antun Kovacic, Kaz Patafta, and Jason Naidovski have a lot to prove if they want to earn the fans’ respect.

The Jets have lost some key players, including striker Mark Bridge and defender Andrew Durante, and although the team beat the Glory 2-1 in round 21 of last season, it will be a different proposition on Saturday afternoon.

Jets head coach Gary Van Egmond said his focus during the pre-season cup would be on building team cohesion. “At this stage it’s important to work on combinations on the pitch and to ensure that we are working as a unit. As far as results are concerned our focus is really on round one of the season and beyond.”

The Jets had only won twice in the past 11 encounters with the Glory and had never beaten the Glory in Western Australia, he said. “Our record against them isn’t the best and [that’s] something that gives us some extra motivation heading into this game.”

The Glory is likely to name Ivory Coast striker Eugene Dadi and Argentinean attacking midfielder Adrian Trinidad in their side to face Newcastle. The two new signings have been impressive during Perth’s pre-season and will be looking to cement a spot in the club’s first XI. Perth stalwart David Tarka, who missed much of last season through injury, is also likely to be in the Glory starting line-up.

Glory coach Dave Mitchell said he expected a good crowd in Mandurah and his side would look to play attractive, flowing football. “I like my teams to play attacking football and we have put together a side that has the ability to score goals and put a lot of pressure on defenders. [The Jets] are obviously coming off a very successful season and will no doubt be looking to back-up that performance,” Mitchell said.

The other two team in Newcastle’s pre-season cup group, Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory , will play each other at Aurora Stadium in Launceston, Tasmania, at 1pm on Saturday.

Newcastle Jets Squad:
1. Ante Covic, 7. Kaz Patafta, 8. Matt Thompson, 9. Joel Griffiths, 10. Jin-Hyung Song, 11. Tarek Elrich, 12. Jobe Wheelhouse, 13. Adam D’Apuzzo, 15. Jason Hoffman, 17. Antun Kovacic, 18. Noel Spencer, 19. Jason Naidovski, 20. Ben Kennedy, 24. Beau Busch, 25. Jarrad Ross

By James Heffield, Betfair soccer bet journalist

Newcastle Jets took the lead for 24 hours in the amazing 4 way battle for the Premiership. Goals to Joel Griffiths and Mark Bridge saw off a determined Perth Glory side who had previously won every game they have ever played in the A-League in Newcastle.

Much of the pre game talk was on who would win the Premiership (First past the post). Not surprisingly the Jets fans predicted they would and that they needed a 4 goal victory margin, the CCM were also mentioned, and the chances of both Sydney and Qld Roar were down played with everyone expecting both teams to slip up in their final games.

So Goals were the order of the day for the Jets and they started with a very attacking line up – Holland, Hoffman, Hearfield, Bridge and Griffiths all started, it was an attacking 4-3-3 and it was the Jets who commenced the quicker Hearfield is clear but falls over, Hoffman chips Petkovic and is just wide and then Griffiths misses from point blank in front of goal, all in the first 5 minutes.

Rukavytsya responds with a shot but Covic saves, Topor-Stanley twice in the space of 6 mins nutmegs Hoffman who fouls Topor-Stanley, Hoffman receives a yellow card.

The Jets have 3 men forward at all times and on 21 minutes a Holland free kick is cleared to Spencer his fierce shot is just wide of the far upright. The Jets take the lead a minute later Thompson’s beats Simpson and his perfect cross finds the head of Griffiths, who has the simplest of headers 1-0 Jets and Joel Griffiths has broken the A-League record for most goals in a regular season with 12.

Pert Glory leave Simon Colosimo out of the side (is he going to Sydney ?), Stan Lazaridis is injured and pacy James Downey is on the bench for Glory who have Rukavytsya again responding this time his shot is wide of the upright.

The Jets are keeping possession with a series of passes, but Rukavytsya is away on goal but Covic saves his close range effort.

On 36 minutes Rizzo is given a straight red card for a studs up challenge on Elrich, it seems a bit harsh and the home fans roar their approval and now anticipate a goal flood, its all smiles as predictions of 3, 4 and even 5 goals are boldly made.

But its Perth who then dominate possession with 10 men as the Jets drop off their intensity. The home fans are silenced as Topor-Stanley heads a corner on to Harnwell who heads home from close range as the first half ends, its 1-1.

The second half commences with a Hoffman long range shot. A procession of Jets passing ends with a 25m Elrich blast that has Petkovic diving to make a full stretch save.

On 54 minutes Hoffman beats Coyne and with the goal at his mercy he simply passes to no body.

The Jets attacks are ending with their wingers, but their final crosses aren’t accurate enough, Hearfield decides to take on the back peddling defence, his shot is deflected just wide of the near upright.

On 64 minutes a Hearfield pass has Bridge through on goal, and Bridge fires past Petkovic its 2-1 Jets. The Jets have retaken the lead and their fans are going crazy.

The Jets knowing goal difference will make the difference continue to create chances, Tunbridge fires just wide from 20m and Elrich strikes an upright. But in the end it finishes 2-1 Jets, the fans applaud but deep down everyone knows it’s not enough to win the Premiership, but is it enough to make the top two? The next 48 hours will tell us.

So for the third year in a row the Jets are semi final bound, Glory are yet to make the semi finals.

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