There were 11 – yes, 11 – goals scored in two fixtures to start an action-packed Sunday of A-Leagues football.
The points were shared in the Liberty A-League as Newcastle Jets drew 3-3 with Canberra United, and an Anthony Caceres brace saw Sydney FC come from behind to defeat Central Coast Mariners 3-2 in the Isuzu UTE A-League in the two simultaneous A-Leagues games kicking off at 4.05pm AEDT.
Attention then turned back to McDonald Jones Stadium, where the Jets led Adelaide United 1-0 in the Isuzu UTE A-League until the 88th minute before 15-year-old Nestory Irankunda sparked a shock Reds comeback.
KEEPUP followed along LIVE to bring you all the latest news, goals, highlights, scores and biggest talking points from three A-Leagues fixtures on Sunday.
THE A-LEAGUES SCHEDULE ON SUNDAY:
- Newcastle Jets 3-3 Canberra United
Liberty A-League, McDonald Jones Stadium - Sydney FC 3-2 Central Coast Mariners
Isuzu UTE A-League, Leichhardt Oval - Newcastle Jets 1-2 Adelaide United
Isuzu UTE A-League, McDonald Jones Stadium
ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: NEWCASTLE JETS V ADELAIDE UNITED
MATCH REPORT: Fifteen-year-old leads Reds’ ALM heist
LATE DRAMA IN NEWCASTLE: Ibusuki completes shock Reds comeback (8.40pm AEDT)
The visitors trailed until as late as the 88th minute of play – but by full-time Carl Veart’s side had all three points in their grasp, as substitute Hiroshi Ibusuki scored a 91st minute winner at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Irankunda’s free-kick stunned the home side and all watching on as a player of such inexperience came up clutch in the moment that mattered – but before the Jets managed to gain composure, the Reds compiled their misery.
Two Reds substitutes, two goals, three points – Adelaide surge to third on the Isuzu UTE A-League table in style.
GOAL: Irankunda, take a bow! (8.36pm AEDT)
That was a moment to savour for one of the Isuzu UTE A-Leagues youngest ever players.
Nestory Irankunda, the sixth youngest debutant in Isuzu UTE A-League history, and the first player in the competition’s history born after the first ever match (26/08/2005), put responsibility on his young shoulders to level the scores – and what a hit it was to make it 1-1.
GOAL! Mikeltadze strikes as Jets take the lead (8.05pm AEDT)
“Cameroon to Georgia – and what a finish it was!” Said Paramount+ commentator Simon Hill as Olivier Boumal set up Beka Mikeltadze to score for the Jets.
It was a magnificent left-footed delivery from Boumal, and Mikeltadze supplied the finish to match, spinning on the spot to lash home a first-time strike past Gauci into the bottom-left corner.
Newcastle were deserving of a goal in the first half, and despite the Reds bursting out of the blocks early in the second 45 it’s the home side on the scoresheet first.
Second half underway as tense battle resumes in Newcastle (8.00pm AEDT)
The Reds have settled nicely into the opening five minutes of the second half, as the Jets attempt to wrestle back control on their home turf.
What has remained the same from one half to the next is the aggression on display from both sides – a hefty collision between Daniel Penha and Juande left the latter needing a head wound treated by the medical staff.
Four yellows for Adelaide as tempers flare (7.40pm AEDT)
It’s 0-0 at McDonald Jonest Stadium as we head toward the break in what has been a hotly contested first half between the Jets and Reds.
The visitors clocked up four yellow cards within the first half-hour of play; even head coach Carl Veart got a stern talking to from referee Alex King as the Reds continued to toe the line.
The Jets have been bright going forward, but are yet to find a way past Joe Gauci in Adelaide’s goal as half-time beckons.
KICK-OFF: Jets, Reds underway in Newcastle (6.45pm AEDT)
For the first time in 42 days, the Jets are in Isuzu UTE A-League action.
Arthur Papas’ side come up against a Reds outfit lacking firepower going forward, with Kusini Yengi out with a long-term injury, Craig Goodwin on Socceroos duty and Stefan Mauk a late withdrawal through illness not related to COVID-19.
LIBERTY A-LEAGUE
FULL-TIME: NEWCASTLE JETS 3-3 CANBERRA UNITED
MATCH REPORT: Jets, Canberra share points in instant ALW classic
Time to catch your breath.
A manic second half has ended with the points shared, as a six-goal thriller ends 3-3 between two sides giving absolutely everything to get on top at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Watch all the goals and highlights below.
GOALS, GOALS, GOALS AT McDONALD JONES STADIUM (5.27pm AEDT)
Are you not entertained?
Three goals in the space of three minutes have seen this Liberty A-League clash catch fire in the second half, with Canberra scoring two in quick succession to take a 3-2 lead before the Jets drew level with a Sunny Franco finish on 63 minutes.
Sykes got her second goal of the game on the hour mark, tucking her strike past Claire Coelho into the bottom-left corner.
Allira Toby then rose highest from a Canberra corner to head home her first goal of the season, and hand the visitors an unlikely lead.
But Linton’s side held that advantage for a mere matter of moments; the Jets attacked down the left flank through Sunny Franco who cut in onto her right foot to beat Richards, finding the bottom-right corner to level the scores at 3-3.
This game could go in any direction from here on out – so strap yourselves in and enjoy the ride.
GOAL: Harding adds a goal to brilliant individual display (5.15pm AEDT)
Dølvik Markussen played a key part in Newcastle’s second goal of the afternoon, turning the ball over in midfield before slotting Sophie Harding through on goal; and the Newcastle speedster made no mistake with her classy finish into the bottom-left corner of goal.
The Jets started the first half brightly, and it was no different in the second stanza as the homes side went 2-1 ahead.
All square in Newcastle as second half begins (5.10pm AEDT)
An early Dølvik Markussen strike put the Jets in front, but Ash Sykes popped up in the Canberra box at the right moment to draw the visitors level – and that’s how the score remained to half-time.
Watch all the first-half highlights below.
GOAL: Ash Sykes on the scoresheet as Canberra draw level (4.25pm AEDT)
The visitors are back level thanks to a defensive gaffe by Newcastle which gifted Canberra an equaliser.
Jets defender Hannah Brewer fluffed the chance to clear a Hayley Taylor-Young cross into Canberra’s attacking box, with the ball falling into Sykes’ path for a simple tap-in from close range.
It’s been an entertaining start to this Liberty A-League clash as we head past the 20-minute mark with scores level at 1-1.
GOAL: Marie Dølvik Markussen puts Jets ahead inside one minute (4.07pm AEDT)
Wow, what a start by the Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium!
Marie Dølvik Markussen has got the hosts flying. The Norwegian rattled a long-range strike off her right foot off the post and into the back of the net – Canberra goalkeeper Keeley Richards absolutely no chance of keeping that one out.
In just her fourth start of the season, Dølvik Markussen has shown her undoubted class to get the hosts on top early here in Newcastle.
ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE
FULL-TIME: SYDNEY FC 3-2 CENTRAL COAST MARINERS
MATCH REPORT: Caceres brace helps Sydney down Mariners
What a game at Leichhardt Oval. The Sky Blues went ahead in the first half, before the Mariners rallied; two goals to Bozanic and Cummings turned the tide.
But the Sky Blues rallied once again with Bobô and Caceres slotting home the all-important finishes, getting the home side back on top to clinch a vital three points.
Watch all the goals and highlights below.
GOAL! Caceres in fine form as Sky Blues wrestle back the lead (5.47pm AEDT)
It’s carnage at Leichhardt Oval as Sydney FC take a 3-2 lead through Caceres’ second goal of the afternoon.
The midfielder is shouldering the burden of midfield creativity for the Sky Blues this season. He’s got four goals in four games now after scoring two in his first 76 appearances at the club.
His second goal of the game sends his side back in front of the Mariners, who took a 2-1 lead earlier in the second half.
GOAL! Bobô off the bench to equalise for Sky Blues (5.40pm AEDT)
It took a significant break in play for VAR to clear Bobô’s Sky Blue equaliser to decide whether or not the Brazilian had tucked home his leveller from close range in an offside position.
It looked as though Bobô had ventured past the last Mariners defender before putting the ball in the back of the net, and the delay suggested the on-field call was to be reversed before referee Kurt Ams put his whistle to mouth and signalled the goal would stand.
It’s 2-2 at Leichhardt Oval with less than 15 minutes to play.
GOAL CUMMINGS! Out of nowhere on debut, the Mariners recruit scores (5.22pm AEDT)
How about that – in the space of minutes the Mariners LEAD at Leichhardt Oval.
Jason Cummings on debut has got his goal, and it’s come out of nothing for the Scottish-born striker.
Taking the ball on the turn outside the box, Cummings drove the ball toward goal off his left foot. The ball beat Heward-Belle, nicked the right-hand goalpost, dribbled across the face of goal to hit the left post before finally trickling over the line.
The Mariners were down 1-0 at half-time, and lead 2-1 at the hour mark.
GOAL! Bozanic belter drops off the bar and in from range (5.20pm AEDT)
Oliver Bozanic fancies himself from distance – and with good reason. The Mariners captain has scored magnificently from outside the box to draw the visitors back level at 1-1.
A corner routine worked from the right-hand side of the Mariners’ attacking third found Bozanic all alone on the edge of the box. He took one touch to control before launching a left-footed effort which shaved the underside of the crossbar before finding the back of the net.
It’s all tied up at Leichhardt Oval with more than an hour to play.
GOAL! Caceres buries spot kick as Sydney take deserved lead into the break (4.52pm AEDT)
A shot on goal from Sydney FC’s Callum Talbot has struck the outstretched arm of Mariners teen Jacob Farrell, sending Anthony Caceres to the spot to go head-to-head with Mark Birighitti.
The Central Coast keeper guessed the right way, diving to his right to attempt to parry away the spot kick – but Caceres’ shot was struck with too much venom as it rifled into the back of the net.
Buhagiar blunders one-on-one chance as Cummings gets involved (4.41pm AEDT)
Trent Buhagiar used his trademark pace to break Central Coast’s defence apart, getting ahead of a sliding Ruon Tongyik to go one-on-one with Mark Birigihitti before sending his strike from a slight angle off target, wasting Sydney’s best chance of the afternoon.
One minute later it was the Mariners on the attack, and Cummings saw his first opportunity of the afternoon thwarted by Thomas Heward-Belle with a strong save from his left-footed strike from inside the box.
Sky Blues start the strongest (4.21pm AEDT)
The opening 15 minutes of play have belonged to Sydney FC at Leichhardt Oval, with the hosts getting well on top of the Mariners .
Multiple scoring opportunities have presented to Steve Corica’s side, with new Mariners signing Jason Cummings going largely unsighted.
Marco Ureña let his frustration show by putting his studs into the back of Sydney FC defender James Donachie which saw the first yellow card of the afternoon brandished in the direction of the Costa Rican.
