Ninth placed Newcastle Jets fight to the death and secure a point against First placed Auckland FC in a thrilling 1-1 draw which saw Auckland FC reduced to 10 men.
Late Surgers Newcastle Jets hosted Auckland FC at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on Sunday Afternoon, Auckland FC coming off their 4-4 draw last weekend against Adelaide United were hoping to seal all three points and make the premiership almost out of reach but Newcastle were not going to let that happen, without a fight. Newcastle in the last few weeks have made McDonald Jones Stadium a fortress, Newcastle coming off three consecutive wins and all the momentum did not stop for anything.
Newcastle Jets were off to a quick start with Winger Eli Adams able to get past Auckland’s defence and score in the 12′ minute of the match.
In the 20′ minute a corner kick was played past the far post and struck the hand of Nando Pijnaker which saw Referee Nathan Shakespear award a penalty. The Jets with the opportunity to double their lead was spoiled as Auckland keeper Alex Paulsen saved the penalty by Captain Kosta Grozos.
Newcastle in control for most of the first half saw them create chances but were ultimately outplayed by Auckland in the 37th minute when Auckland Captain Hiroki Sakai crossed the ball into the penalty box where Forward Jesse Randall was able to connect and get it into the back of the net.
Louis Verstraete in the 75′ minute saw a straight red card for serious foul play after Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Daniel Elder overruled Referee Nathan Shakespear’s onfield decision of a yellow card. Verstraete unlucky in the view of many as he went to clear a ball at the centre of the pitch and fell to the ground as he kicked it and with the follow up from the kick incidentally making contact to the thigh of Jets player Charles M’Mombwa.
The Jets late charge to play finals in Season 24/25 is on and is a very big possibility with the Jets last 8 games of the season, Melbourne City (A), Western United (H), Macarthur (A), Wellington Phoenix (H), Central Coast Mariners (H), Sydney FC (A), Western Sydney Wanderers (H), Melbourne Victory (A).
Auckland seem almost destined to claim the Premiership in their first season in the competition but some in the past two weeks with draws is seeing Western United & Melbourne Victory come closer and closer. Auckland’s final 7 games of the season are, Central Coast Mariners (H), Brisbane Roar (A), Western Sydney Wanderers (H), Sydney FC (A), Melbourne Victory (A), Perth Glory (H), Western United (A).
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