Newcastle has continued its recent impressive form with a 2-0 victory over Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium on Friday night.
Coming off a big win over Sydney FC a week ago, the Jets withstood everything the desperate Reds could throw at them, and the visitors’ superior composure and conversion shone through, with skipper Matthew Thompson and Jin-Hyung Song coming up trumps with a goal apiece.
Adelaide had a number of genuine chances and more possession than Newcastle – the home side’s intent and energy couldn’t be questioned, especially compared to the Reds’ first half against North Queensland last week – but their wastefulness and lack of direction proved costly and finals now seem a forlorn hope.
The Jets had an early opportunity when, counter-attacking in the third minute, Jin-Hyung Song’s testing ball flew just wide.
A minute later Sean Rooney’s cross found Michael Bridges on the edge of the box. The former Sunderland and Leeds United striker’s shot was on target but deflected away by Adelaide’s defence.
The Reds’ best first-half chance came in the 14th minute when Fabian Barbiero’s cross found Cristiano, whose close-range shot slammed into Nikolai Topor-Stanley.
Topor-Stanley stumbled, almost forcing an own goal when the follow-up attempt from Travis Dodd just missed in a hectic few seconds of football.
A minute later Tarek Elrich opportunely defended another Cristiano attempt, the Reds’ purple-patch going unrewarded.
Dodd nearly goaled in the 22nd minute after receiving the ball from Cristiano who had deftly sidestepped Elrich, but Dodd’s shot from inside the box was narrowly wide.
Paul Reid had a good look from a Sarkies corner kick, but his strike was smartly deflected by the Newcastle defence.
The Reds had numerous chances but couldn’t make them count and they were made to pay by the Jets in first-half stoppage time when Thompson scored an opportunistic goal.
The skipper seemingly came from nowhere – after Rooney had floated the ball to Labinot Haliti who couldn’t quite connect – and found the back of the net to make it 1-0 to the visitors.
Adelaide had more chances early in the second half, through captain Dodd – who in the 49th minute struck one well from long range but couldn’t convert – and Cristiano, who with some Brazillian brilliance pickpocketed Ben Kantarovski and almost slotted one past outstretched Jets custodian Neil Young.
Dodd and Cassio had shots in the 65th and 66th minute but both hits were pouched by Young, as the Reds continued to attack and have plenty of the ball. Matthew Leckie, the hero from a fortnight ago came on in the 59th minute and provided pace and energy, but the home side was errant in front of goal.
The game was settled in the 80th minute, in unfortunate circumstances, when Reds defender Scott Jamieson was penalised for a handball in the Jets’ box. Song calmly converted the penalty past Eugene Galekovic to give Newcastle an insurmountable two-goal buffer, which despite the fact Adelaide never threw in the towel, was too much to reel in.
Adelaide United 0
Newcastle Jets 2 (Thompson 45, Song 80p)
@ Hindmarsh Stadium, 04/12/2009. Crowd: 8502
