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The Newcastle Jets Youth’s faint title hopes remain alive after edging out a 10-man Sydney FC Youth by a goal to nil at Magic Park on Sunday afternoon in the Foxtel National Youth League.
Just like the game against the Wanderers the previous weekend, the match started at a frenetic pace with both teams knowing the significance of this clash. Sydney FC only needed a point in this game to seal grand final qualification against Conference A champions Adelaide United Youth, while the Jets had to win to stay in the running.
The Jets crafted the first chance of the game in the second minute when Charlie Horsley broke down the left and sent an inviting cross into the box. Winger Andy Brennan won the aerial contest but couldn’t direct his header goalbound.
Brennan didn’t have to wait long to get on the scoresheet. Two minutes later, Sydney FC failed to clear a corner which created an almost comical goalmouth scramble inside the six yard box. Eventually, the ball popped out of the pack and the Tasmanian was on hand to smash the ball home from close range, much to the delight of his teammates and the vocal home crowd.
Sky Blues striker Bai Antoniou was a constant threat to Newcastle as Sydney often looked to find open space in behind the Jets defence. In the 9th minute, Antoniou beat his marker before firing a low cross along the six yard box, but there were no white shirts to claim a simple tap in. Three minutes later, the young striker was found on an overlapping run in behind on the left, however could only blast his shot wide with the whole goal to aim at.
The barrage of Sydney’s attacking forays continued, but the Jets defence scrambled well to deny Max Burgess in the 33rd minute to clear the danger. From the resulting play, Newcastle hit Sydney on the break through number ten Cody Carroll. Carroll took on the defence on his own and managed to weave his way past 3 defenders before being bundled over in the penalty area by defender George Timotheu, who went into the referee’s notebook for the challenge. Brennan stepped up to the spot to double his and the Jets’ tally, however sprayed his powerful shot over the bar to give the Sky Blues a reprieve.
Sydney almost went to the break deservedly on level terms when Jets keeper Blake Tuxford made a sharp save before the rebound was put over the top.
Newcastle started the second half the better of the two sides. Carroll and Brennan used their speed to get in behind and combine well, however Carroll could only divert Brennan’s cross over the top of Anthony Bouzanis’ crossbar.
The turning point in the match arrived five minutes after half-time. Sydney right-back Nicola Kuleski made a strong run into the penalty area before hitting the turf as he was challenged by the Jets defence. The referee blew his whistle and sprinted over, not to award a penalty, but to rule that there was minimal contact and booked Kuleski for simulation, his second booking of the day and dismissed him.
After this incident, the Jets looked comfortable in possession with the man advantage and looked to go searching for the elusive second goal. Josh Barresi teed up Carroll, but couldn’t beat Bouzanis.
Despite being a man light, Sydney remained very dangerous with the ball. Just after the hour, Tuxford saved his side once again with a good stop at the near post when the Sky Blues found an opening. Tuxford again was the saviour five minutes later when a move broke down for Newcastle and former Jet, Burgess sprinted at goal to go one on one with the keeper. Tuxford held his nerve, forced Burgess wide and saved the goalbound shot.
Sydney kept coming and it was Tuxford again who was proving impossible to beat. With 15 minutes remaining, Antoniou tested him from long range, but the young custodian proved equal to the task.
In the 77th minute, there was another goalmouth scramble and just when it seemed certain Sydney would find the equalising goal, the ball was hooked wide of an open goal from a tough angle.
Antoniou remained the danger man and fizzed a shot narrowly wide of the far post when Sydney found an opening with seven minutes left on the clock.
It was the outstanding Tuxford again who thwarted the Sky Blues for the final time in the 86th minute when he batted away another rasping long range drive.
As the game moved into injury time and Sydney pushing everyone on to try and find the point that would set a date with Adelaide in a fortnight’s time, the Jets broke on the counter and found left-back Ryan Ensor who picked out an unmarked Kristian Brymora on the penalty spot. With substitute Tyson Jackson in support and only Bouzanis to beat, Brymora elected to go it alone, however Bouzanis pulled off one of the saves of the match to keep his team alive.
Sydney wasted no time in getting the ball back into the danger zone and in the 94th minute, a long ball from the back drew a foul in a dangerous area for the Jets. Max Burgess lined up the shot, but the wall of blue held strong before the final whistle ended yet another pulsating encounter, with players from both sides slumping to the ground in exhaustion after having given everything for 94-and-a-half entertaining minutes.
By claiming the points, Newcastle finish unbeaten at home and the only side to take points off Sydney, doing so both home and away. The result keeps the Jets in the hunt for a grand final spot, however they must defeat the Central Coast Mariners away from home next Saturday morning while hoping the FFA Centre of Excellence can spring a huge upset and defeat the current leaders the following day.
Clayton Zane’s team was warmly applauded off the park by the largest home crowd of the season as they live to fight another day.
Newcastle Jets Youth 1 (Brennan 4’) Sydney FC Youth 0 at Magic Park, Broadmeadow (Newcastle).
Newcastle Jets Youth: 1. Blake Tuxford (GK), 2. Ben Hay (C) (14. Rhyan Smith), 4. Thomas Whiteside, 5. Ryan Ensor 6. Josh Barresi 7. Andy Brennan (12. Jake McGuiness), 8. Andrew Pawiak, 9. Kristian Brymora, 10. Cody Carroll, 11. Charles Horsley (16. Tyson Jackson), 15. Themba Muata-Marlow.
Unused Substitute: 20. Jez Murray (GK)
Yellow Cards: Barresi 25’, Brennan 59’
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney FC: 1. Anthony Bouzanis (GK), 2. George Timotheu, 5. Yianni Spyrakis (C), 6. Nikola Kuleski, 8. Max Burgess, 9. Bai Antoniou, 11. Lachlan Huhes, 12. Charles Lokoli Ngoy (18. Emmanuel Gonzalez 58’), 14. Cristian Gonzalez (16. Brendan Curtis 58’), 15. Jacob Tratt (3. Patrick Flottmann 80’), 19. Aaron Avery.
Unused Substitute: 20. Nicholas Sorras (GK)
Yellow Cards: Timotheu 33’, Kuleski 37’, 50’, Hughes 40’, Tratt 44’, Curtis 90+2’.
Red Cards: Kuleski 50’.