There were five Hyundai A-League sides in pre-season action over the weekend with Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC suffering surprise defeats.
Here’s how they fared with less than four weeks until the 2017/18 season roars into action.
JETS SOAR AGAINST SKY BLUES
Newcastle earned pre-season bragging rights over New South Wales neighbours and defending Hyundai A-League champions Sydney FC at Magic Park on Saturday afternoon.
Dimi Petratos put the Jets ahead in the 12 th minute, a lead they held until early in the second spell when 20-year-old Sky Blues striker Charles Lokolingoy – one of ten changes made by Graham Arnold at the break – squared the ledger.
But another youngster – teenage substitute Mario Shabow – scored the winner with 20 minutes left to give the Jets a confidence-boosting 2-1 victory.
ROAR’S NEW MEN ON TARGET
Brisbane new-boys Petros Skapetis and Massimo Maccarone were both on the scoresheet as the Roar stretched their legs with a 3-0 win over Olympic FC on Saturday night at Goodwin Park.
Youngster Shannon Brady also netted in Brisbane’s fourth win of the Hyundai A-League pre-season.
PHOENIX FALL TO BLACKTOWN
Wellington Phoenix started their week-long tour of New South Wales with a 2-1 defeat against Westfield FFA Cup quarter-finalists Blacktown City.
Fielding very much a second-string side, Wellington’s goal came from Alex Rufer with all the scoring action happening in the first half.
WANDERERS WIN AT WOLTER
Spanish striker Oriol Riera continued his fine pre-season form with another goal in Western Sydney’s 2-0 win over PS4 NPL side Moreton Bay United at Wolter Park on Saturday evening.
An acrobatic second-half bicycle kick from Brendon Santalab sealed the win for Tony Popovic’s team.
