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A-League
| A-League Scoreboard - Preliminary Final |
| SEMI-FINALS: Friday 25th January Sydney FC 0 Queensland Roar 0 Sunday 27th January Newcastle Jets 2 Central Coast Mariners 0 Friday 8th February Queensland Roar 2 Sydney FC 0 Sunday 10th February Central Coast Mariners 3 Newcastle Jets 0 (after extra time) Sunday 17th February Preliminary Final Newcastle Jets 3 Queensland Roar 2 (after extra time) Sunday 24th February Grand Final Central Coast Mariners v Newcastle Jets 6:00pm, Sydney Football Stadium |
| Newcastle Jets have qualified for the 2007/08 A-League grand final, and also booked a berth in the 2009 Asian Champions League, after a dramatic extra-time win over Queensland Roar in the preliminary final. The Roar made the early front-running; and Marcinho had a golden opportunity to put the Queenslanders in front, but his shot went agonisingly wide. Zullo had a chance but he too missed. Queensland were dominating possession, but against the run of play it was Newcastle who hit the lead shortly before half-time. Queensland were a man down at the time while Sash Ognenovski was being treated for a head injury, and Mark Bridge caught the Roar defence short with a strike that it took a diving effort from Roar keeper Liam Reddy to keep out; but while down for the dive the ball deflected to Matt Thompson for a simple strike. It was 1-0 at the break, and for most of the second half it appears destined to remain that way. Both sides created some chances, but there appeared no way for the Jets to extend their lead to make the game safe, or for the Roar to even the scores. But as the clock ticked over 90 minutes, and the injury time board was held up on the sideline, the tale was to undergo a dramatic twist. Queensland's Simon Lynch was tackled by Newcastle's Adam D'Apuzzo in the box; and although the contact was minimal, referee Peter Green saw fit to point to the penalty spot. Reinaldo converted the chance, and all of a sudden the contest was far from over and an extra 30 minutes of play was brought on. 13 minutes into extra time, and another dubious penalty restored the lead for Newcastle, with the boot of Joel Griffiths making no mistake. And early in the second period, the Jets built what looked to be a match-winning lead when Tarek Elrich, from the edge of the box, slammed home a strike into the top corner of the net. 3-1 to the Jets, and a minute later the Roar were a man down when Craig Moore was booked for the second time. Two goals down, a man down, and with a fanatical Jets crowd screaming their support; it looked all over. |
But the Roar, when it looked like they were down for the count, bounced back off the
canvas. Another penalty, another score to Reinaldo brought the margin back to 3-2. The
Roar regained possession and moved the ball forward, forcing a run of corners before,
mercifully for the Jets, the referee blew full-time.
It was a disappointing result for the Roar. It had been their best season, resulting in their
first finals appearance and a fine win over Sydney FC in the minor semi-final series before
taking the prelim final to extra time. But the grand final spot, and the Asian qualification,
was to elude them.
But for Newcastle, it was a result to savour. 4th in 2005/06, and missing out on the grand
final after a penalty shootout in 2006/07, the Jets had finally made it through to the big
one. And the grand final will be one to look forward to, with the Jets taking on local rivals
Central Coast Mariners. A big crowd is expected at the Sydney Football Stadium for what
should be a grand final to remember.
Newcastle Jets 3 (M Thompson 40, J Griffiths 103pen, T Elrich 110) Queensland Roar 2
(Reinaldo 90pen, 118pen) (After extra time. 1-1 after 90 minutes).
Yellow Cards : Jets - A Griffiths 10, J North 62, A Griffiths 81, A D'Apuzzo 115. Roar - S
Ognenovski 75, C Moore 77,112.
Red Cards : Roar - C Moore 112.
Referee - P Green. Crowd - 16,021 at Energy Australia Stadium.
canvas. Another penalty, another score to Reinaldo brought the margin back to 3-2. The
Roar regained possession and moved the ball forward, forcing a run of corners before,
mercifully for the Jets, the referee blew full-time.
It was a disappointing result for the Roar. It had been their best season, resulting in their
first finals appearance and a fine win over Sydney FC in the minor semi-final series before
taking the prelim final to extra time. But the grand final spot, and the Asian qualification,
was to elude them.
But for Newcastle, it was a result to savour. 4th in 2005/06, and missing out on the grand
final after a penalty shootout in 2006/07, the Jets had finally made it through to the big
one. And the grand final will be one to look forward to, with the Jets taking on local rivals
Central Coast Mariners. A big crowd is expected at the Sydney Football Stadium for what
should be a grand final to remember.
Newcastle Jets 3 (M Thompson 40, J Griffiths 103pen, T Elrich 110) Queensland Roar 2
(Reinaldo 90pen, 118pen) (After extra time. 1-1 after 90 minutes).
Yellow Cards : Jets - A Griffiths 10, J North 62, A Griffiths 81, A D'Apuzzo 115. Roar - S
Ognenovski 75, C Moore 77,112.
Red Cards : Roar - C Moore 112.
Referee - P Green. Crowd - 16,021 at Energy Australia Stadium.