Newcastle Jets have returned to winning ways in style, scoring four second-half goals to romp Wellington Phoenix 4-0 at McDonald Jones Stadium on Friday night.
KEEPUP followed along LIVE to bring you all the goals, highlights, up to date scores and biggest talking points from the Isuzu UTE A-League on Friday night.
- NEWCASTLE JETS v WELLINGTON PHOENIX
Isuzu UTE A-League, McDonald Jones Stadium. Kick-off: 7.45pm AEDT
REACTION
‘Talay was furious’: How one transition ‘stung’ the ‘Nix with game on the line
It was the moment in which the game hinged on Friday night: a long-range, hopeful bomb from Wellington midfielder Nicholas Pennington which was not only blocked on sight by the Jets midfield, but sprung the home side into the attacking play which ultimately resulted in the second goal of the game.
Paramount+ co-commentator Ben Homer watched on from the sidelines as ‘furious’ Phoenix head coach Ufuk Talay reprimanded his midfielder in the aftermath of the Boumal goal which made it 2-0 to the home side.
With so many first-team players out through injury and on international duty with New Zealand, Talay needed his side to be perfect in Newcastle to get anything out of their Friday-night fixture.
Pennington’s ambitious attempt from distance did his side no favours, just after the hour mark with a result still within reach.
Homer explained how the incident unfolded in the aftermath of Boumal’s second of the night:
“Just before Olivier Boumal scored the second goal for Newcastle, Nicholas Pennington had a real aimless shot from probably about 40 metres out, nothing doing, it was blocked by the Newcastle defence,” Homer said.
“It deflected away and Newcastle went down the other end and scored.
“Ufuk Talay was furious he was having that kind of shot in the 62nd minute, and he expressed that to him.That was when the game turned, you feel.”
‘He’s got a great kit bag of tricks – but it’s getting it out every week’
Paramount+ football analyst Andy Harper has thrown down the gauntlet to the Jets.
Inconsistent form sees the Jets outside the top six – but after Friday night’s romp of Wellington Arthur Papas’ side are now just three points shy of the finals spots.
A scintillating Olivier Boumal led the Jets charge, with his brace igniting the 4-0 win. His best shift in a Newcastle shirt defined his side’s approach to the season: brilliant one week, quiet the next. His two goals doubled his individual tally for the season, showing just how much of an outlier his Friday night display was.
Harper says there’s few who can produce the brilliance Boumal is capable of in the Isuzu UTE A-League – but in terms of output from here to the end of the season, the Jets may need quantity more so than quality from their attacking stars.
“He’s a player in A-League terms with rare capacity,” Harper said post-match.
“He’s a personality player, he’s got a great kit bag of tricks but it’s getting it out every week.
“The good players eight games out of 10 put their business on show.
“This is the challenge for the Jets, because they’ve got players individually across the field who can challenge the best in the comp, but they’re not eight games out of 10 production players, are they? Olivier is in that category by my assessment.
“There’s few in the comp that can actually do what he can do, but there are lesser players who have more effect on more weeks than Olivier.”
‘That closeness is hard to manufacture’: Familial Jets to lean on each other in the run home
Outside the top six and desperate to put on a run of consistent form, the Jets are one of many teams under pressure to lift in the run to the end of the season.
In the aftermath of their 4-0 win over the ‘Nix, Harper was in the midst of summarising his thoughts on how the Jets can muster performances of the same quality on a regular basis in order to enter into finals reckoning.
The scenes which then unfolded on the McDonald Jones turf stopped Harper mid-sentence.
Right then and there, Harper may have found his answer.
He watched as Papas embraced his players and their families. He watched Jets stars ventured to the stands to mingle with fans, their kids streaming around the pitch with balls at their feet.
If the Jets want to reach the finals, perhaps their secret weapon will be the familial nature of the club, and the support which Harper says can pull players through difficult games.
“These are good pictures,” Harper said. “They’re very fastidious post-game as an entire squad to go acknowledge and interact with the fans. I think that’s very, very important.
“I think this speaks really strongly to the connection of the players with each other, with their families, integrating each with the other.
“That closeness is hard to manufacture, it’s the sort of closeness that can actually pull you through the tougher games. This is good stuff in Newcastle.”
Weier: It’s a privilege playing for Newcastle
Three games into his Isuzu UTE A-League career, 25-year-old Jets gloveman Michael Weier has his first clean sheet.
He spoke to Paramount+ after his side’s 4-0 win:
“I’m privileged to be here, and it’s also a privilege to play for a team that plays the sort of football we do,” Weier said.
“A clean sheet means a lot to me, but most importantly the three points. We’ve battled for the last couple of games and haven’t got those points but to get the points tonight it will kick off our season to where it needs to be.”
RELIVE: JETS v ‘NIX – AS IT HAPPENED
FULL-TIME: NEWCASTLE 4-0 WELLINGTON
It was a below par display from the hosts in the first half – but that second 45 was something to behold from the Jets.
When the Jets are on song, there’s arguably no team in the league capable of entertaining in the same manner, capable of free-flowing attack and creating an avalanche of goals.
83′: GOAL! Babalj ‘winds back the clock’ to send Jets cruising (4-0)
Wellington are on the canvas with less than 10 minutes to play as the Jets run rampant at McDonald Jones Stadium.
The fourth goal came via the head of Eli Babalj, who timed his run into the box to perfection to head home Dylan Murnane’s cross off the left flank.
67′: GOAL! ‘These are the box office Jets we were promised!’ (3-0)
This is quickly becoming a rout in Newcastle.
After a toothless first half, the home side has found its rhythm, going two goals ahead through a Boumal brace before Beka Mikeltadze got back amongst the goals, feinting to shoot on his right before cutting onto his left and whipping a strike into the back of the net.
63′: GOAL! Boumal on fire as Jets double the lead (2-0)
A low, driven strike from distance from Boumal has lashed into the bottom-right corner of goal, and put the Jets on the course to victory.
54′: Desperate Jets defending keeps lead intact
That was backs to the wall stuff from the Jets.
Scott Wootton had arrived at the back post, looking to score from a tight angle. But his attempt was blocked, leaving Gary Hooper to gather possession; he flicked the ball to Jaushua Sotirio in open space, and the ‘Nix forward struck on goal – but his shot went high over the bar.
51′: GOAL! Boumal nets opener off the rebound (1-0)
The Jets lead at McDonald Jones Stadium!
A long-range Daniel Penha strike was parried away from goal by Paulsen, but only into the path of Olivier Boumal. The Cameroonian struck first time off his left foot to find the back of the net, scoring his second goal in as many games against the ‘Nix.
48′: CHANCE! Sutton tests Weier as ‘Nix start second half strong
Sam Sutton initiated a neat one-two which opened up space for the left winger to lash a shot on goal early in the second half, which put Jets keeper Michael Weier to the test.
‘An important night it is in Newcastle’
Three years and three days ago, 51 people lost their lives in the Christchurch mosque attacks.
Tonight, the Jets stand united with Wellington, who are unable to pay their respects on home soil, arranging a touching tribute to show the names of those 51 people will never be forgotten.
Paramount+ sideline report Ben Homer summed it up best:
HALF-TIME: NEWCASTLE 0-0 WELLINGTON
It’s goalless at the break as the Jets and Phoenix both persevere to find an opener.
Thurgate and Siatravanis went closest for the home side in the first half. Wellington took six shots on goal as opposed to Newcastle’s seven, with the latter enjoying a monopoly of possession.
30′: CHANCE! Thurgate strikes and Paulsen saves… just (0-0)
That was almost a moment of calamity from Phoenix goalkeeper Alex Paulsen.
Angus Thurgate’s volley from outside the box was on target, but lacked the pace to sincerely test the Wellington gloveman – or so it seemed.
The shot dipped between Paulsen’s legs and could have easily squirmed into the back of the net before the young keeper sat on the ball to keep it in his possession.
13′: CHANCE! Siatravanis heads wide (0-0)
The Jets went closest to opening the score through Savvas Siatravanis, who arrived at the back post to get ahead of his marker and head a curling cross toward goal from close range.
Hit the target and a near-certain goal was on offer for the hosts, but instead his header flashed just wide of the mark.
1′: KICK-OFF (0-0)
The Jets have retained possession through the opening minute of play as they look to press the visiting Phoenix early doors.
SAFE SMOKE A TRIBUTE TO UKRAINE
Beka Mikeltadze’s message of support to the people of Ukraine in early February was a message felt around the world.
With corner flags and pre-game safe smoke both flying the colours of the Ukrainian flag tonight, the Jets are showing their full support of their Georgian striker’s message as the war in Ukraine continues.
TEAM NEWS
51 seats reserved: Jets, Phoenix unite in moving tribute to victims of Christchurch mosque attack
Wellington Phoenix travel to face Newcastle Jets on Friday night, in a clash which both teams will unite to honour the victims of the Christchurch mosque terror attacks.
The Isuzu UTE A-League fixture comes three years and three days after 51 people were killed and more than 40 other injured by a terrorist at two Christchurch mosques.
The Phoenix began honouring the victims of the tragedy in March, 2019, continuing on home soil one year later in 2020 before the displaced Phoenix combined with Western Sydney at CommBank Stadium to pay their respects at CommBank Stadium last year.
This season it’s the Jets uniting with the Phoenix in a tribute to those who lost their lives in 2019; 51 seats at McDonald Jones Stadium will be reserved throughout the game, with each seat bearing the name of one of the deceased.
Newcastle executive chairman Shane Mattiske said: “Acknowledging the loss of the Christchurch community and the impact of such a terrible act on all in New Zealand, and around the world, is extremely important.
“As a club and a sport, we promote inclusion and community harmony. By standing alongside Wellington Phoenix in remembering this tragedy, we hope it assists to further promote the importance of our communities coming together and supporting each other.”
Wellington Phoenix general manager David Dome added: “We have a great relationship with the Muslim community in Wellington and throughout New Zealand – thanks in part to our ‘Football for All’ community programme – so it is important for us to stand in solidarity with them in the days and years following this unthinkable tragedy.
“As we’ve been unable to play at home again this season, the Newcastle Jets have been fantastic in working with us to continue the club’s tradition of honouring the 51 fallen, this time at McDonald Jones Stadium.
“We thank them for the compassion and support they’ve shown with organising this tribute.”
