Roy O’Donovan managed a second-half double, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Newcastle Jets going down 3-2 to fourth-tier Spanish side FC Cartagena on Saturday morning (AEST).
It was a Newcastle side which started a couple of surprising faces: some youth in the likes of 17-year-old goalkeeper Noah James and wonderkid Angus Thurgate, along with two trialists in midfield positions.
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Playing their second game in as many days, and in temperatures which wouldn’t be out of place in the middle of the Hyundai A-League season, the Jets were two goals down inside the opening fifteen minutes.
The experienced heads got the Jets back into the match though, with Dimi Petratos and Roy O’Donovan combining just eight minutes after half-time for the latter to score and pull Newcastle back into the match.
53' | GOAL! Roy O’Donovan gets us on the board (1-2) #NEWvCAR
— NEWCASTLE JETS FC ✈️ (@NewcastleJetsFC) August 3, 2018
Cartagena scored in the 65th minute to restore their two-goal advantage after they pinched the ball in the middle of the park. It was left to Carillo to do the hard work, and he beat a number of defenders and scored a nice goal.
Jets had a penalty in the 80th minute after Roy O’Donovan was brought down inside the area, contesting a corner. He stepped up to take the penalty, sent the keeper the wrong way and slotted it.
The last ten minutes were action-packed, with Newcastle rattling the post in their search for an equaliser while Noah James pulled off a stunning stop at the other end to keep his side in it. It ended 3-2 Caratagena.
A strong second half, but Cartagena hold on for the win #NEWvCAR pic.twitter.com/oN2k1fSjUa
— NEWCASTLE JETS FC ✈️ (@NewcastleJetsFC) August 3, 2018
The third and final friendly for the Jets on their pre-season jaunt to Spain, their attention will now turn to their first competitive fixture of the season coming up in the 2018 FFA Cup.
They fly directly to Queensland to take on Gold Coast Knights in the Round of 32 on Tuesday night in their quest to progress from the opening stages of the Cup for the first time in history.
Meanwhile, the Jets Youth side just missed out on its first win at China’s Weifang Cup after going down 2-1 to the China under-19s on Thursday morning. They also lost out to Argentinan side Club Santos Laguna 4-1 on Saturday.
The youth squad will now fly home from China and get straight back into the action. They play Broadmeadow Magic in the NPL Northern NSW on Tuesday night – the same time as the senior side tackles the FFA Cup.
