‘Phenomenal’ Natta relishes physical Ibusuki test to help Jets achieve season-first shutout

Newcastle Jets travelled to the City of Churches on Tuesday night in need of a herculean display to have any hope of taking points off Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium.

In the end the Jets took all three in a 1-0 triumph, with plenty of the plaudits directed towards a defensive unit whose collective resilience was typified by the “phenomenal” display of 20-year-old Mark Natta in the heart of the backline.

Natta was tasked with marking towering Reds striker Hiroshi Ibusuki – and he did so with guts and determination, making five clearances (an equal game-high), engaging in five duels, three aerials, and making four ball recoveries. 

Ibusuki spearheaded a relentless Reds attacking machine, with Socceroos star Craig Goodwin pulling strings down the left flank as the home side put 15 shots on the board compared to Newcastle’s nine – but the Jets’ defensive rigidity meant Adelaide could only aim three of their 15 on target, compared to Newcastle’s five.

Jaushua Sotirio scored the game-breaking goal. The Jets’ defence ensured that one goal mattered.

“It’s a big one,” Jets head coach Arthur Papas told Paramount+ post-game. “We knew it was going to be very difficult. They’re a very good team with a great stadium and a great crowd, so I’m proud of the boys. They took the big moments when it mattered and had to defend well towards the end. 

Paramount+ pitch side reporter Bruce Djite then posed the question of Natta’s significance to Papas: “You talked about big moments, you’ve got Sotirio with that (goal), (but) for us on the sidelines, Natta was phenomenal – as was (Jordan) Elsey, but Natta especially – those moments, just getting in front of Ibusuki, that half a yard. How proud of you were your players today in those big moments?”

Papas replied: “I’m super proud of them because it’s a tough place to come. Our backline, it’s our first clean sheet. We’ve had games where we probably created better chances as well, but overall when the big moment was there… that first 30 was ours, and it was enough to win the game in the end.”

Natta is relishing his key role in the Jets’ squad this season after making the off-season switch from Western Sydney Wanderers; he made just three starts in four games last season, but has started all of Newcastle’s nine games thus far in 2022-23.

The emerging Australian centre-back hailed both the Jets coaching staff and his experienced teammates for preparing him for arguably his best performance in a Newcastle kit to date, in a shutdown role against Ibusuki.

“I think the coaches do a really good job of identifying the players we’re going to be up against,” Natta told Paramount+. “I got told (Ibusuki’s) strengths and weaknesses, and I think our whole backline dealt with them really well.

“As I said before, all the other boys (have) loads of experience: (Carl Jenkinson) has played at the highest level, (Jordan) Elsey, Matty (Jurman), they’re players to look up to. They help me around the team and make me feel comfortable.”

The Jets jumped from second bottom on the Isuzu UTE A-League table into the top six with the three-point display. Next up for Arthur Papas’ side is a New Years Day clash with Sydney FC at McDonald Jones Stadium.

MATCHDAY AGENDA

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