Sydney FC midfielder Iain Ramsay continued his scintillating form with a brilliant individual goal against Newcastle this afternoon but a late strike from the Jets saw the sides share the points.
Sydney FC midfielder Iain Ramsay continued his scintillating form with a brilliant individual goal against Newcastle at Adamstown Oval this afternoon but a late strike from the Jets saw the sides share the points in a highly entertaining National Youth League match.
Ramsay curled the ball into the top right of the Jets net in just the third minute of play and it looked as though the Sky Blues would hold onto a valuable away win but an 81st minute goal to Fabian Iacovelli saw a 10-man Newcastle snatch a 1-1 draw.
Sydney FC remains in fifth position on the ladder, three points outside the top four with six home and away games left in season 2009/10.
Sydney FC got the dream start through Ramsay who scored from a free kick after Newcastle defender Mario Simic was given a yellow card for pulling down Adam Casey 20 yards from goal.
The Jets then began to ask more questions of the Sky Blues defence but the brilliant work of keeper Ivan Necevski saw Sydney FC take a 1-nil lead into the break.
Necevski and midfielder Brendan Gan were substituted at half time ahead of tomorrow-s A-League clash with Nenad Vekic taking over in goals and striker Hussein Akil coming on.
After the break the Jets continued to control the game but Sydney FC responded with Tim McGowan and Luke Austin forcing Newcastle keeper Robbie Kolak to make a number of goal stopping saves.
The Sky Blues looked even more likely to snatch all three points when Simic was given his marching orders by referee Tim McGilchrist for a second yellow card in the 70th minute.
But it wasn-t to be as the Jets levelled the scores with nine minutes of play left when Iacovelli got on the end of an excellent cross from Jarrad Ross and slid the ball in at the far post.
Iacovelli looked to have pulled off an amazing win for Newcastle after he put the ball in the net from a corner but he was pinged for a handball.
Temperatures were high in Newcastle today with drinks breaks being taken in each half.
Sydney FC now turns their attention to the Brisbane Roar, who they will take on at Ballymore Stadium on Sunday 31 January.
Match Details:
Sydney FC: 20. Ivan NECEVSKI (gk) (1. Nenad VEKIC (gk) 46-), 2. Antony GOLEC (c), 5. Sam GALLAGHER, 6. Mitchell SPEER, 7. Brendan GAN (9. Hussein AKIL 46-), 8. Sam MUNRO, 10. Iain RAMSAY, 12. Adam CASEY, 13. Joel CHIANESE (4. Joseph GIBBS 58-), 14. Tim MCGOWAN, 15. Raymond MILLER (17. Luke AUSTIN 60-)
Unused substitutes: Nil
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil
Newcastle Jets: 1. Robbie KOLAK (gk), 2. Damian BROSQUE, 3. Mario SIMIC, 4. Matt SIM, 5. Scott BALDERSON, 6. Taylor REGAN (c), 7. Jason HOFFMAN, 8. Brodie MOOY (14. Will ANGEL 58-), 9. Jason NAIDOVSKI, 10. Mirjan PAVLOVIC (12. Jarrad ROSS 46-), 11. James VIRGILI (13. Fabian IACOVELLI 58-)
Unused substitutes: Dion SHAW (gk)
Yellow cards: Mario Simic 3-/66-, Scott Balderson 70-, Damian Brosque 71-, Fabian Iacovelli 81-
Red cards: Mario Simic 66-
Sydney FC 1 (Ramsay 3-)
Newcastle Jets 1 (Iacovelli 79-)
Referee: Tim McGilchrist
