The Newcastle Jets stunned reigning premiers Sydney FC with a dramatic 2-1 win at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium last night.
After a four-month hiatus due to COVID-19, the Jets came from behind to win in the dying minutes of the game, thanks to a strike from newcomer Kosta Petratos.
The goal, his first for the club, was scored on the same night his brother, Dimi Petratos, marked his 200th appearance in the A-League.
The match was the first for head coach Carl Robinson and his outfit since their 2-1 victory over Melbourne City on 23 March.
Despite the Sky Blues having a 1-0 advantage going into the second half, the visitors were soon rewarded when Nick Fitzgerald produced a superb volley in the 58th minute.
Petratos then struck in the 90th minute, curling a right-footed effort into the bottom corner to hand the Jets a deserved win, which saw Newcastle move up to eighth on the ladder, three points behind sixth-placed Adelaide.
The Jets will now turn their attention to Friday evening’s must-win F3 Derby clash against the Central Coast Mariners at Central Coast Stadium.
The clash kicks off at 7.30pm.
Earlier:
Four months after COVID-19 forced the season shutdown, Newcastle will take on heavyweights Sydney FC in its A-League re-opener at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium tonight.
The ninth-placed Jets will need to dig deep to outplay the reigning premiers if they are to earn a place in the finals series next month.
With just four matches remaining, head coach Carl Robinson insists his team needs to remain positive.
“There’s no magic wand, we need to win four games to give ourselves a chance,” he said earlier.
“We need to remain positive.
“I require determination and effort, all the fundamental things you need to be a professional footballer, and I want them to enjoy it.”
The last time the Jets faced-off against Sydney was in January 2020 when the harbour-city outfit took home a 4-1 win against the Hunter-based side at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Fresh out of hotel quarantine and at team training for less than a fortnight, the group will welcome back Scotsman Joe Ledley tonight, as well as new import Lucas Mauragis, who signed a scholarship deal with the club this week.
All remaining 2020 Football Federation of Australia (FFA) matches were suspended on 24 March due to COVID-19.
Newcastle Jets FC Squad: 3.Jason HOFFMAN, 4.Nigel BOOGAARD (c), 6.Steven UGARKOVIC, 7.Roy O’DONOVAN, 9.Abdiel ARROYO, 10.Dimi PETRATOS, 11.Nick FITZGERALD, 12.Lucas MAURAGIS, 16.Matt MILLAR, 17.Joe LEDLEY, 18.Johnny KOUTROUMBIS, 19.Kosta PETRATOS, 20.Lewis ITALIANO (gk), 21.Bernie IBINI, 29.Connor O’TOOLE, 31.Maki PETRATOS, 32.Angus THURGATE, 40.Noah JAMES (gk), 44.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY.
Unavailable: 22.Lachlan JACKSON (knee – indefinite)
The Hyundai A-League 2020 Grand Final will now be scheduled for Sunday 30 August.
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