The Newcastle Jets upset the Brisbane Roar 3-0 at home to snag all three points and claim a third win from their opening five matches of the Ninja A-League season.
A tight opening 20 minutes saw both teams share an even amount of possession with few real chances, before a nervy moment from Roar goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln seemed to set off a 25-minute period that brought about two goals from the hosts.
Kelli Brown spurned a chance to open the Jets’ scoring from an India Breier cross just moments after Lincoln’s errant touch, before the Roar charged down the other end with Sharn Freier and Kijah Stephenson trading passes before Freier blazed over the bar from 10 yards.
Freier’s was the best chance of the match before the opening goal came through Melina Ayres on 32 minutes, who brilliantly controlled an Olivia Page cross to sit down Momo Hayashi before firing low past Roar ‘keeper Lincoln’s left glove. Just 13 minutes later it was Brown who scored her first goal for the Jets as she was brought down in the area by Leia Varley, converting her own penalty from the spot to give the home side a two-goal lead at the half.
MUST READ: Devastating news sidelines Brisbane Roar’s Yallop
The second half started with a surprise as Bente Jansen stayed on the Roar bench due to an apparent injury, and the visitors almost made the perfect start to the second 45 before Freier was denied by a smart save from Jets goalkeeper Anna Leat.
But from then on it was the same story as the first 45 as the Jets continued to force the issue on the visitors; the hosts’ third and final goal coming from a thunderous Breier strike in the 71st minute to bounce back from last week’s derby defeat and confirm the upset result in the Hunter.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT THEY SAID
Hear from goal scorer Melina Ayres after the Newcastle Jets’ resounding win
Brisbane Roar forward Grace Kuilamu discusses her side’s loss to the Newcastle Jets
