McDonald Jones Stadium played host to back-to-back A-Leagues fixtures as the February Football Feast continued on Tuesday evening.
In the Liberty A-League it was Newcastle Jets welcoming reigning champions Melbourne Victory to the Hunter, and the side bolstered by the return of Matildas duo Kyra Cooney-Cross and Courtney Nevin won out 1-0 thanks to a debut goal from Brooke Hendrix.
The Jets men’s outfit went on to welcome Melbourne City to the Hunter and it was the visitors putting on an attacking show, winning 4-2 in the Isuzu UTE A-League in the second of two fixtures at McDonald Jones Stadium.
KEEPUP followed on LIVE to bring you all the goals, highlights, up to date scores and biggest talking points as the A-Leagues February Football Frenzy continued on Tuesday, February 8.
The live feed is broken into game-by-game coverage as follows:
- Newcastle Jets 0-1 Melbourne Victory
Liberty A-League, McDonald Jones Stadium MATCH REPORT
- Newcastle Jets 2-4 Melbourne City
Isuzu UTE A-League, McDonald Jones Stadium MATCH REPORT
REACTION
Yeoman-Dale: Victory performance ‘isn’t good enough’ to match it with ALW’s best
They may have notched their third consecutive win and clean sheet on Tuesday evening, but the overall performance from Melbourne Victory in a 1-0 triumph over Newcastle Jets did little to convince the football analysts in the Paramount+ studio that the champions are ready to mix it with the Liberty A-League front-runners.
Victory battered the Jets in the first half but failed to impact the scoresheet, letting chances aplenty slip by to give the hosts a sniff in the second 45.
A debut goal from defender Brooke Hendrix ultimately got Victory the three points they deserved – but perform like that against the teams tussling for ascendancy in the top four and Georgia Yeoman-Dale sees Jeff Hopkins’ side coming unstuck.
“Melbourne Victory, they’re a team really trying to compete at the top of the table, they’ve got Sydney FC next Wednesday, that kind of performance isn’t good enough going into games like that,” Yeoman-Dale said.
“They didn’t take their chances in the first half they had, and then you’ve got Newcastle Jets picking you apart a bit in the second half.”
Fellow Paramount+ football analyst Grace Gill added: “I think against a better opposition that Melbourne Victory like that today would be exposed.
“It’s not because they’re not creating chances because they did, we saw they had some good opportunities they made, but they weren’t converting.
“When you have fewer chances against tougher opposition and you’re not putting those away you’re going to get shown out, and that’s a dangerous position for Jeff Hopkins and the Melbourne Victory side to put themselves in.”
Dissatisfaction in Victory’s performance was not only evident in the Paramount+ studio, but on the touchline in the second half as an increasingly frustrated Hopkins paced about his technical area urging his side to attack the contest with greater urgency.
“We talked about it before the game,” Hopkins said post-match. “We talked about it at half-time: we needed to play at our intensity, we were just, I couldn’t put my finger on it but maybe five per cent off that real top intensity that would’ve allowed us to put the game away.
“It’s something we’ve talked about but we didn’t actually bring it in the second half.”
Hopkins added: “It’s always good, (firstly) to win away from home and to keep a clean sheet was excellent, although we made quite hard work of it.
“Just a little bit disappointed we couldn’t put the game away and made it a little bit safer a little bit earlier, but still stuff for us to work for, and work towards.”
As the frontline clicks, conceding ‘soft goals’ is next point on City agenda
Melbourne City’s front four sparkled in a 4-2 win over Newcastle Jets on Tuesday night, with star recruit Mathew Leckie bagging his first Isuzu UTE A-League goal in City colours.
Leckie was joined on the scoresheet by Maclaren (two goals) and Berenguer, with Nabbout causing all sorts of problems down either flank against his former side.
If the attacking trend continues City will have no issues impacting the scoresheet against the best sides in the competition this year – but Paramount+ football analyst Tarek Elrish says cleaning up defensive errors is the next point on the agenda for City boss Patrick Kisnorbo if his side have hopes of retaining their crown this season.
City moved into second place on the Isuzu UTE A-League table on Tuesday night, but only seventh-placed Wellington Phoenix have conceded more goals (16) than the reigning champions (15) this season.
“Their front three or four, they’re just going to punish you,” Elrich said after City’s 4-2 win on Tuesday night.
“If you give them half a chance, they combine well up front, they create a lot of chances and you know they’re going to score.
“If you’re scoring two goals… they’re going to score four.
“They are the benchmark. They just need to tighten those screws. They’re copping soft goals and they can do a lot better in the defensive half.”
Fringe Matilda an ‘absolute standout’ for Victory in ALW
Victory star Alex Chidiac provided everything but that all-important maiden goal in Victory colours on Tuesday afternoon, in a dominant display against Newcastle Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Chidiac created four chances and took five shots in her side’s 1-0 win, including three on target, but couldn’t find the back of the net – with a resolute Claire Coelho and the woodwork combining to keep her off the scoresheet.
“Alex Chidiac for me, an absolute standout in this game,” said Yeoman-Dale post-match.
“First half dominant, came out (and had) great second half as well. She seems to be hitting higher highs as she comes through (the season).”
Gill added: “I love watching Chidiac play this afternoon, she’s hitting her (stride) at the moment.
“If not with her own shots on goal, what she’s doing in the way of creating for her team-mates around her, I think she’s just such a fun player to watch and I loved seeing what she did out on the park this afternoon for Victory.”
ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: NEWCASTLE JETS v MELBOURNE CITY
FULL-TIME: NEWCASTLE JETS 2-4 MELBOURNE CITY
City move into second spot on the Isuzu UTE A-League table with a 4-2 win over the Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium.
A Maclaren brace took the City spearhead into the Golden Boot lead as Mathew Leckie got his first goal of the Isuzu UTE A-League season o the board.
Watch all the highlights below.
GOAL! Thurgate on the swivel gives Jets a consolation (9.48pm AEDT)
A brilliant strike from Angus Thurgate has made it 4-2 at McDonald Jones Stadium. It’s given the home side a brief glimmer of hope heading into the final five minutes of regular time, but at the very least the goal has shown Papas’ side are not willing to roll over for the reigning champions.
Daniel Penha found Thurgate in the box with a curling ball toward the 18-yard-box. Thurgate took one touch to control the ball out of the air before spinning on a five cent piece to lash his shot past Glover into the bottom-right corner.
GOAL! Metcalfe scores City’s fourth… or is it J-Mac’s goal? (9.31pm AEDT)
It looked as though Connor Metcalfe had netted a fantastic finish from long range to make it 4-1 to the visitors – but on closer inspection, a deflection off the leg of an unaware Maclaren has ultimately led to the City striker stealing the goal off of his teammate.
That’s goal number seven for Maclaren this season – Mikeltadze drew level in the Golden Boot race for a mere amount of minutes before Maclaren’s fortuitous finish.
GOAL! There’s the lifeline for Newcastle (9.24pm AEDT)
It’s raining goals in Newcastle as the Jets put their first on the board through Beka Mikeltadze to make it 3-1 from the spot with half an hour to play, after substitute Yuel won the home side a penalty.
Mikeltadze finished with ease to return to level pegging with Maclaren in the Golden Boot race on six strikes.
GOAL! Leckie off the mark in City colours as City cruise to three-goal lead (9.20pm AEDT)
And just like that, City stroll to a 3-0 advantage.
Aiden O’Neill turned the ball over high up the field for City, playing Maclaren down the right flank and into the box. Leckie streamed toward the penalty spot where he met a Maclaren pass to finish past Duncan with ease.
Leckie looked to the sky and exhaled in a clear sign of relief after scoring his maiden Isuzu UTE A-League goal in City colours.
GOAL! City scything Jets apart as Maclaren continues scoring run (9.16pm AEDT)
It looked all to easy for City to double their advantage as Berenguer slipped City striker Jamie Maclaren into the box to finish past Jets keeper Duncan with aplomb.
It’s the seventh consecutive game for both club and country in which Maclaren has scored a goal, with five in five Isuzu UTE A-League fixtures complimented by two recent strikes for the Socceroos.
Yuel introduced at the break as Jets push for equaliser (9.14pm AEDT)
Valentino Yuel has come off the Jets bench as Arthur Papas’ side chase the game on home soil.
His first contribution is a whipped ball off the left wing which Tom Glover does well to wrap up with an excellent save.
GOAL! City lead through Berenguer (8.45pm AEDT)
What a move by the visitors.
Berenguer started the attack, floating the ball to Nabbout who shifted from the right flank to the left to drive into the box.
Nabbout cut past Olivier Boumal with ease before back-heeling the ball toward the byline where a marauding Connor Metcalfe arrived to cut the ball back to Berenguer to finish.
The calmly-struck shot on goal was helped on its way into the back of the net by a sliding Riley Warland.
The crowd yells ‘boo’.. or is it ‘Nabbout’? (8.40pm AEDT)
Former Jet Andrew Nabbout is playing the villain at McDonald Jones Stadium on Tuesday night.
He’s the focus of jeers from the home crowd – and the Jets faithful are regularly testing their vocal cords as the City forward continues to get on the ball down the right flank.
Nabbout has tried on numerous occasions to whip crosses into the path of a fellow City attacker inside the six-yard box but Jack Duncan has proved up to the task of quelling the danger on multiple occasions, intercepting the ball at the near post.
Yellow to J-Mac for simulation (8.25pm AEDT)
Referee Alireza Faghani has put his whistle to mouth to award Newcastle a foul in their defensive penalty area, adjudging Jamie Maclaren to have gone down too easily under pressure from Jordan O’Doherty in the box.
A VAR inquiry followed and despite a clear touch on the heel of Maclaren from the Jets midfielder, Faghani did not see enough evidence to overturn his original decision as play resumed without a reverse of the Maclaren yellow.
KICK-OFF: Second game in doubleheader begins (8.05pm AEDT)
City have kicked off the Isuzu UTE A-League action at McDonald Jones Stadium as an early opportunity presents to Florin Berenguer to get in behind the Jets defence.
An offside call halts the early City attack as the Jets look to settle into this one.
LIBERTY A-LEAGUE: NEWCASTLE JETS V MELBOURNE VICTORY
FULL-TIME: NEWCASTLE JETS 0-1 MELBOURNE VICTORY
MATCH REPORT: Debut Hendrix strike helps Victory defeat Jets
The Jets brought Marie Dølvik Markussen off the bench in search of a late equaliser which never eventuated as the visitors ran out 1-0 winners after five minutes of additional time at McDonald Jones Stadium.
It was a dream debut for Hendrix who marked her Victory bow with a headed goal to strengthen Victory’s position inside the top four.
Watch all of the highlights below.
GOAL! Hendrix strikes on debut (6.51pm AEDT)
What a way to introduce yourself to your new club!
A glancing header from new Victory recruit Brooke Hendrix off Alana Murphy’s perfectly-weighted delivery from a deep free-kick left Coelho with no chance of keeping the ball out of the back of the net, as it hit the post on its way over the line.
After Victory’s star-studded attack failed to impact the scoresheet in the first half, the central defender stepped forward to show her teammates how it’s done.
‘I’m sure between one of them we’re going to see a goal’ (6.30pm AEDT)
They were the two top performers of a goalless first half, and Cooney-Cross and Chidiac loom as the two players capable of breaking this game apart for Victory in the second half.
“It’s fantastic to see them both playing great football in this first half, causing Newcastle so many problems,” said Paramount+ football analyst Georgia Yeoman-Dale in the half-time show.
“Two young footballers in Australia, this is what we want to see in the liberty A-League: young players coming through and hopefully then pushing on into the Matildas.
Grace Gill replied: “I think so too, and what I really love about watching these girls play is Kyra Cooney-Cross and Alex Chidiac, similar players in their position but how they play, their dynamic on the field is so different.
“Chidiac is such a technical player, Cooney-Cross is really coming into this game nicely, she’s building in confidence.
“I’m sure between one of them, we’re going to see a goal.”
Somehow it’s 0-0 at the break (6.17pm AEDT)
Melbourne Victory have dominated proceedings at McDonald Jones Stadium but have nothing to show for it on the scoreboard as the teams go into the sheds at 0-0.
When asked by Paramount+ pitch-side reporter Ben Homer what was missing for Victory in the first half, Chidiac replied: “Just the quality of finishing, I think we’ve had so many chances today and haven’t been able to put them in the back of the net.
“But it’s positive, we keep going and I think we’re going to be able to have some success in the second half.
“We just need to keep applying the pressure. They’re coughing it up pretty high up the field, we need to make sure we stay as a unit, keep applying the pressure and the goal will come.”
Markovski squanderers golden opportunity (6.05pm AEDT)
That was harder to miss than score for Maja Markovski!
A magnificent ball from Cooney-Cross from the right flank to the far post was met by the waiting Chidiac, who headed the ball back toward Markovski waiting all alone inside the six-yard box to score.
But her first time strike lacked any genuine power, as it meekly dribbled into the arms of Coelho. The young Victory forward will be rueing that missed opportunity at half-time.
In the aftermath of the missed attempt, Victory continued to apply the pressure. Chidiac cannoned a left-footed strike off the post before Claudia Bunge headed high over the bar from a corner routine.
Chances flowing in Newcastle (6.02pm AEDT)
It’s an open contest between Victory and the Jets as chances flow down both ends of the ground.
Teenage Victory midfielder Alana Murphy struck a long-range shot just wide of the top-right corner, before Harding cut past Doran to sting the gloves of Casey Dumont in the Jets attack.
Cooney-Cross then saw her first opportunity of the night arise, striking just past the left-hand goalpost from an acute angle.
It’s heating up at McDonald Jones Stadium (5.56pm AEDT)
It’s Sophie Harding against Polly Doran down the left side of the Jets attack – and the one-on-one battle looks looks set to excite as the game goes on.
Coelho to the rescue as Zimmerman comes knocking (5.45pm AEDT)
Catherine Zimmerman’s first opportunity of the evening came from close range on the volley, but Jets keeper Claire Coelho was up to the task of keeping it out with a strong glove which sent the on-target strike over the crossbar and away from danger.
KICK-OFF: We’re underway in Newcastle (5.28pm AEDT)
An early Alex Chidiac header is the first goalscoring chance of the evening – and it comes just two minutes into play at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Keep your eyes on Kyra Cooney-Cross tonight – her return from an Asian Cup in which she barely featured should be met with a determined response from the Victory youngster against Newcastle.
