Two goals in three minutes from 23-year-old Eli Adams and a stoppage-time penalty save courtesy of Ryan Scott earned Newcastle Jets a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Macarthur Bulls at Campbelltown Stadium on Friday night.
The Bulls went ahead in the first half via Marin Jakoliš but the hosts came unstuck in the second half thanks to two moments of brilliance from Adams; a new signing at the Jets this season, Adams scored twice in the space of three minutes and seven seconds to flip the script.
But there was late drama to come in Campbelltown when a tackle on Dean Bosnjak from Thomas Aquilina led to a VAR review and a penalty awarded to Macarthur.
Valère Germain stepped up to take the spot-kick but Scott had his measure, diving to his left to save the attempt from the spot and earn all three points for the visitors in dramatic circumstances.
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After Macarthur’s 6-1 win over Perth Glory in Round 1 and Newcastle’s home defeat to Melbourne City, Friday night’s gutsy comeback was a big result for the Jets.
Adams and Scott wrote the headlines but young striker Ben Gibson was equally pivotal to the road win, supplying assists for both goals on a memorable night for Rob Stanton’s side.
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In Round 1, Jets came undone after just two minutes in against Melbourne City, with Marco Tilio’s early strike proving the difference in a 1-0 defeat; having urged his side to make a better start in Round 2, Newcastle head coach Stanton would’ve been pleased with what he saw in the opening 17 minutes – but then came a moment of Macarthur class that broke the deadlock in Campbelltown.
Bulls young gun Jed Drew provided sublime delivery off the right wing, bending his low cross behind the Jets defence to meet the in-form Jakoliš streaming into the six-yard box for a simple tap-in and his third goal of the season to date.
The Bulls came close to doubling the advantage seven minutes after half-time when a mixup between Jets keeper Scott and Adams led to the loose ball dropping to Drew in space.
Thomas Aquilina scrambled across to block Drew’s attempt on goal and divert the ball just wide of the post and out for a corner.
From a moment of desperate defending, the Jets quickly resumed their pursuit of an equaliser, but in a three-minute blitz, the visitors struck twice to claim a shock lead – and it was a magnificent quickfire double from Adams that put Newcastle on top in Campbelltown.
Adams drew the Jets level in the 56th minute with a determined piece of attacking play, driving down the right side of the Jets’ attack and playing the ball through the legs of Bulls defender Matthew Jurman, with a composed finish capping off the move.
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There were three minutes and seven seconds between Adams’ first and second goals of the night, and the second was even better than the first, with his strike from the edge of the box buried into the bottom-left corner to put the Jets ahead.
Young striker Gibson played a big role in the build-up, controlling a long ball up field under pressure from the Macarthur defence to keep the attack alive and play Adams into the final third.
Adams had scored just one goal in 24 games prior to Friday night’s clash in Campbelltown but the 22-year-old is well and truly off the mark as a Jet in just his second game for the club.
“It’s a wonderful strike!” Exclaimed Network 10 commentator Simon Hill as the second goal rattled the back of the net.
“Two goals in three minutes, and two absolute beauties from Eli Adams!”
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Macarthur pushed relentlessly for an equaliser and in second-half stoppage time, got their chance to snatch a point when a VAR check on a challenge in the penalty area led to a penalty awarded to the hosts.
Jets substitute Aquilina was adjudged to have clipped the heels of Bosnjak as referee Tim Danaskos returned from the pitchside monitor to award the spot kick.
Germain angled his penalty toward the bottom-right corner but Scott produced a save to match, parrying the ball away from danger and sealing three hard-earned points for the Jets.
