A last minute strike from Sydney FC 17-year old substitute Zara Kruger has sealed all three points and lifted the Sky Blues into 2nd place on the Liberty A-League ladder.
The come from behind win happened after Sarina Bolden had given the Jets a 16th minute lead before 16-year old Maddie Caspers equalised in the second half for Sydney FC.
Sydney FC 2 (Caspers 53’, Kruger 90’+6’) defeated Newcastle Jets 1 (Bolden 16’).
Moments That Mattered
13’ – HAWKESBY GOAL DISALLOWED – Hawkesby is sent clear and slots the ball home off the post but it’s ruled out for a questionable offside.
16’ – JETS GOAL – Bolden opens the scoring for the Jets heading home a right wing cross from Allan.
29′ – VINE HITS THE POST – Caspers sets up Vine who shoots to the far side but the ball trickles against the post and away.
45’+2′ – VINE HITS THE POST – Vine is sent clear by Hawkesby but her right footed shot rebounds off the far post and is cleared.
53’ – CASPERS GOAL – Indiana Dos Santos chips the ball to the back post where Vine volleys against the post for a third time but recovers to float the ball to the back post where Caspers heads home.
90’+6’ – KRUGER GOAL – Fenton plays a ball over the top to Kruger who volleys past the on coming keeper to win the game.
What They Said: Ante Juric: “That’s football, you get the good and the bad and you hope it evens out at the end of the year.
“What I was really pleased with was the performance, that was easily the best we’ve played all year. I’m really happy with that.
“It’s enormous [to have a 16 year old and 17 year old score the goals], I don’t know if it’s ever happened before.
“We’ve got Maddie and Indi who are 16 starting the game, Zara who’s 17 coming on and Shay Hollman who’s 18 playing the full game.
“I’m looking forward to the future with Sydney FC with all the youngsters coming through.”
Match Report: Sydney FC have deservedly snatched a last minute winner against the Newcastle Jets to make it 11 wins in a row against the Novocastrians.
Zara Kruger lobbed the ball over Jets keeper Isobel Nino to seal a 2-1 win after Sarina Bolden had opened the scoring in the first half with a delightful header.
Cortnee Vine was back in the starting line up and hit the post three times, recovering the final one to set up Madeleine Caspers for an equaliser early in the second half.
The win moves Sydney FC into second on the ladder seven points behind Melbourne City.
Sydney FC: 1. Jada WHYMAN (GK), 3. Charlotte MCLEAN, 4. Tori TUMETH, 5. Kirsty FENTON, 11. Cortnee VINE, 15. Mackenzie HAWKESBY, 16. Jordan THOMPSON, 20. Princess IBINI-SEI ©, 21. Shay HOLLMAN, 22. Indiana DOS SANTOS (19. Jynaya DOS SANTOS 90’+2’), 26. Madeleine CASPERS (19. Zara KRUGER 84’)
Unused Subs: 30. Tahlia FRANCO (GK), 2. Margaux CHAUVET, 13. Aideen KEANE.
Yellow Cards: McLean 67’
Red Cards: None
Newcastle Jets: 1. Isobel NINO (GK), 2. Josephine WILSON (23. Zoe KARIPIDIS 73’), 3. Claudia CICCO, 4. Natasha PRIOR, 6. Cassidy DAVIS ©, 9. Melindaj BARBIERI, 10. Libby COPUS-BROWN, 11. Sarina BOLDEN, 13. Lauren ALLEN (25. Lara GOOCH 73’), 14. Melina AYRES (18. Sophie HOBAN 65’), 22. Lorena BAUMANN
Unused Subs: 21. Kiara ROCHAIX (GK), 24. Milan HAMMOND.
Yellow Cards: Davis 87′
Red Cards: None
Venue: Leichhardt Oval
Referee: Caitlin Williams
