Sydney FC has set up a huge top of the table clash with Auckland FC next Saturday night (27th Dec) following their 2-0 defeat with the Newcastle Jets.
Two second half goals from the hosts were enough to seal the three points in the Hunter as the Sky Blues slipped to just their second defeat in the last eight matches.
Newcastle Jets 2 (Dobson 66′, Bertoncello 84′) def. Sydney FC 0
Moments That Mattered:
6’ | TOURE SHOT – The winger cuts inside and unleashes a powerful shot goalwards but Delianov is down to parry well.
64′ | CAMPUZANO FIRES OVER – The ball breaks to the Spaniard at the top of the box but his shot goes high and wide.
66′ | DOBSON GOAL – The hosts open the scoring through Will Dobson.
80′ | OFF THE LINE – Piero Quispe sees his attempt cleared off the line following a great cut back from Lolley.
84′ | JETS DOUBLE THE LEAD – Xavier Bertoncello curls one into the far corner from range to seal the points for the Jets.
Match Report: Sydney FC has fallen to defeat in Newcastle following two second half goals from the Newcastle Jets.
The first half passed without too much incident, with the Jets pressuring the Sky Blues backline and the visitors hitting mostly on the break.
Al Hassan Toure had a ferocious shot parried away in the opening few minutes but was denied by Delianov and had another great chance later in the half when a better first touch would have set him up for a close range strike.
Jets had chances of their own but nothing which really tested Devenish-Meares with most shots wide of the target and the half ended scoreless.
The second half began very much the same and following a few stoppages due to injury, neither side could find the breakthrough.
Unfortunately it would be the hosts who would do so. Will Dobson found space inside the area and Harrison Devenish-Meares did so well to make an initial save however the ball rebounded off Dobson, popping over the prone goalkeeper allowing the Jets forward to tap into the net.
Sydney FC looked to respond and rung in the changes with Lolley, Wood & Quintal entering the pitch and they almost did find the equaliser with half chances falling to Campuzano & Lolley.
Quispe would have the best chance in Sky Blue as he met a Joe Lolley cut back however Max Cooper got back in time to clear it off the line and the danger was cleared away.
The final blow would be dealt from substitute Xavier Bertoncello as he cut inside onto his right from the corner of the box and curled one into the far corner with one of the goals of the season.
Harrison Devenish-Meares made a number of brilliant stops late in the piece as he kept the scoring at just two.
Ufuk Talay’s side will now look to next Saturday night’s clash with Auckland in their final game of 2025 as they aim to re-take top spot on the Isuzu UTE A-League ladder.
What They Said: Ufuk Talay: “The energy and enthusiasm was missing today, the enthusiasm to take the game to the opposition.”
“We started very sluggish and that continued into the rest of the game.
“When we had the ball we didn’t keep it well and when we did win it, the first or second pass was off target and they came back at us.
“No idea how bad Joe’s injury is at the moment. He will get a scan during the week. He was able to play 25/30 minutes and we tried to get that out of him however it was one moment where he tries a shot and he feels it go again but it is unfortunate that it played out the way it did.”
Sydney FC | 12. Harrison DEVENISH-MEARES (GK), 23. Rhyan GRANT (c), 32. Marcel TISSERAND, 5. Alex GRANT, 17. Ben GARUCCIO, 6. Corey HOLLMAN (8. Wataru KAMIJO HT), 11. Abel WALATEE (44. Akol AKON HT), 36. Rhys YOULLEY (20. Tiago QUINTAL 79′), 35. Al-Hassan TOURE (10. Joe LOLLEY 67′), 9. Victor CAMPUZANO (13. Patrick WOOD 67′), 7. Piero QUISPE
Unused Subs 30. Gus HOEFSLOOT, 4. Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS.
Head Coach | Ufuk Talay
Yellow Cards | Quispe 90’+1′
Red Cards | None
Newcastle Jets FC | 1. James DELIANOV (GK), 7. Eli ADAMS (39. Thomas AQUILINA 85′), 9. Lachlan ROSE (11. Ben GIBSON 85′), 13. Clayton TAYLOR (8. Lachlan BAYLISS 67′) , 17. Kosta GROZOS (8. Kota MIZUNUMA 79′), 19. Alex BADOLATO, 22. Joel BERTOLISSIO, 23. Daniel WILMERING, 28. Will DOBSON (43. Xavier BERTONCELLO 79′), 33. Mark NATTA, 42. Max COOPER.
Unused Subs | 40. Jordan BAYLIS (Gk), 5. Joe SHAUGHNESSY.
Head Coach | Mark Milligan
Yellow Cards | Natta 15’, Rose 72′, Bayliss 90’+4′
Red Cards | None
Venue | McDonald Jones Stadium
Referee | Lachlan Keevers
Attendance: 5587
