And breathe. A truly enthralling day of A-Leagues action is in the books, and the talking points came from far and wide across four fixtures.
In the Liberty A-League, Newcastle Jets made history with the club’s first ever Finals win, knocking Western United out of the Finals Series in a 4-2 thriller decided in 30 minutes of additional extra time.
In the Isuzu UTE A-League, Round 24 rolled on beginning with Central Coast Mariners’ 2-0 win over Western United on the road – a result that sent Mark Jackson’s side back to the top of the table.
Brisbane Roar then welcomed Newcastle Jets to Suncorp Stadium and the visitors came away with a 2-0 win thanks to second-half goals to Clayton Taylor and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos.
The action wrapped up with a highly-anticipated Sydney Derby which Sydney FC led, before Western Sydney Wanderers equalised in the 95th minute. There was more drama to come, however, as Sky Blues youngster Jaiden Kucharski snatched all three points for the hosts with a 98th-minute winner at Allianz Stadium.
ADELAIDE 1-2 MACARTHUR: Ten-man Bulls spoil Irankunda’s farewell party in shock comeback after second-half send-off
PHOENIX WIN LATE: 95th-minute winner sends Phoenix top & locks up historic top-two finish
Liberty A-League – Elimination Final
Western United 2-4 Newcastle Jets
Newcastle Jets have won a Liberty A-League Final for the very first time in club history, having eclipsed Western United in a thrilling 4-2 extra-time Elimination Final triumph on Saturday night.
The Jets travelled to the Regional Football Facility in Tarneit eager to end the club’s 16-year wait for a Finals win and after taking the lead twice through 90 minutes, were forced to win it in 30 minutes of additional extra time.
Sarina Bolden scored a first-half brace for the Jets but Alana Cerne and Catherine Zimmerman struck for Western on either side of half time as the home side refused to say die.
But extra time belonged to the Jets; Melina Ayres came off the bench to score her ninth Finals goal and give Newcastle the lead for the third time in the game – an advantage that Sophie Hoban doubled with her first ever Liberty A-League goal as the Jets ran out 4-2 winners against third-place finishers Western.
The Jets are now through to a two-legged Semi-Final against Premiers Melbourne City; Newcastle will host the first game in the tie (April 19-21) before travelling to Melbourne for the return leg (April 26-28), with a spot in the Grand Final (May 4) on the line.
Second-place finishers Sydney FC will play either Melbourne Victory or Central Coast Mariners in the other Semi; Victory and the Mariners face off in the second Elimination Final at the Home of the Matildas on Sunday, April 14.
FULL MATCH REPORT: Jets end 16-year wait for finals win with dramatic extra-time triumph over Western
Isuzu UTE A-League
Western United 0-2 Central Coast Mariners
A devastating strike from Central Coast winger Christian Theoharous has helped the Mariners return to the Isuzu UTE A-League summit after they defeated Western United 2-0 in Tarneit.
Having scored his first ever Isuzu UTE A-League goal in Round 23 Max Balard came up with the goods once again as he opened the scoring in the 51st minute after what was a scrappy first half in Tarneit.
Both sides were then guilty of wasting several good chances before substitute Theoharous put the game to bed in the 80th minute, drilling a stunning shot beyond Thomas Heward-Belle to secure the three points.
FULL MATCH REPORT: Super sub’s STUNNER fires Central Coast back to the top of the league after Western win
Brisbane Roar 0-2 Newcastle Jets
Newcastle Jets striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos bagged his 16th goal of the season in a 2-0 win over Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
Brisbane began the evening aiming to claim a vital three points that would have sent the Queenslanders to within two points of the top six but second-half goals to Clayton Taylor and Stamatelopoulos settled an impressive win to the away side.
Stamatelopoulos’ 16th goal of the season closed the gap on the Golden Boot leaderboard to just two; the Jets striker is one goal shy of Perth Glory Adam Taggart’s tally of 17 as Melbourne Victory star Bruno Fornaroli leads the way on 18.
FULL MATCH REPORT: Jets striker closes gap on Golden Boot leaderboard & prevents Roar surge toward the top six
Sydney FC 2-1 Western Sydney Wanderers
A 98th-minute winner from Sydney FC’s Jaiden Kucharski has helped the Sky Blues defeat rivals Western Sydney Wanderers 2-1 at Allianz Stadium to win the Sydney Derby.
In what was a fiercely contested derby the Wanderers will feel as though they should have been in front at the break however forward Marcus Antonsson hit the post from close range with the goal at his mercy.
Brazilian forward Fabio Gomes had several good opportunities to find the back of the net before eventually doing so in the 72nd minute, tapping home from inside the six yard box after Wanderers keeper Lawrence Thomas had denied Joe Lolley.
The Wanderers then thought they’d snatched a point deep into stoppage time as substitute Zac Sapsford headed home an equaliser in the 95th minute but there was more drama to come, as substitute Kucharski stole in at the back post to send the home fans into ecstasy whilst simultaneously breaking the hearts of the Wanderers.
FULL MATCH REPORT: Scenes! 98th-minute mayhem as Kucharski seals Sydney Derby thriller with dramatic late winner
