Late goals to Dimitri Petratos and new recruit Patricio Rodriguez have helped the Newcastle Jets to a 2-0 win over a 10-man Central Coast Mariners in an absorbing F3 Derby on Tuesday night.
Just when it seemed like an absorbing local derby would end goalless, Petratos and Rodriguez scored in the last eight minutes to seal the result for the home side at McDonald Jones Stadium.
The Mariners arguably had the better of the chances throughout but lost momentum when Josh Rose was sent off 18 minutes from the end.
The win sees the Jets keep the pressure on league-leaders Sydney FC, while the Mariners remain eighth having scored just one goal in their last six matches.
STORY OF THE GAME
GREAT EARLY CHANCE: Connor Pain found space on the left to cross to an unmarked Blake Powell but the Mariners striker volleyed over from close range when he really should have scored.
THRILLING STUFF: It was end-to-end action in the first 30 minutes with both sides going at each other, without finding the polish in the final third.
WASTEFUL APPIAH: Mariners winger Kwabena Appiah was sent clear and while it was a tricky angle, fired a shot wide when one-on-one with Glen Moss on the half hour mark.
DOUBLE INJURY BLOW: As a storm hit McDonald Jones Stadium, first Wout Brama and then Connor Pain were both forced off with hamstring injuries within four minutes of each other late in the first half for the Mariners.
HALF-TIME: 0-0. No goals but plenty of endeavour from both sides.
SUPER SAVE: Within two minutes of the restart, Appiah got to the byline and fired it into the middle but Powell was denied by a superb reflex save by Jets gloveman Moss.
JETS’ NEW MAN INTRODUCED: Just 10 minutes after the break and Ernie Merrick gave Jets fans a look at new signing Patricio Rodriguez.
RED CARD: The Mariners were forced to play the last 18 minutes with 10 men after Josh Rose picked up a second yellow for a foul on Joey Champness.
GOAL! Great Jets’ move ends with Dimitri Petratos finding the net with eight minutes left.
MARINERS DENIED: Powell was released into the box and closed in on goal, only to shoot straight at an advancing Moss.
GOAL! Rodriguez caps his Jets debut with the sealer in stoppage-time.
GOALS
Petratos: Jets 82’ 1-0
Steven Ugarkovic drove into the box and his cutback was missed by Joey Champness but founds it’s way to Petratos just inside the box and he swept a shot low into the corner of the net.
Rodriguez: Jets 90+2’ 2-0
The Argentine swept on a loose pass from Jacob Melling to race clear on goal and finish coolly pasta stranded Ben Kennedy.
