Nikolai Topor-Stanley scored a goal that will go down in Hyundai A-League folklore as Newcastle Jets kept their season alive with a 2-1 win over Perth Glory on Saturday afternoon.
Veteran defender Topor-Stanley sent McDonald Jones Stadium into meltdown with an astounding 30-metre strike that sent Newcastle on their way to their first home win over Perth in over eight years.
Perth midfielder Neil Kilkenny equalised from the penalty spot after 250-game milestone man Nigel Boogaard had blocked Joel Chianese’s cutback with his arm.
But Newcastle boss Carl Robinson wrestled momentum back his side’s way by introducing new signing Bernie Ibini and star man Wes Hoolahan off the bench on the hour mark and Roy O’Donovan slotted home from close range on 75 minutes to punish the reigning Premiers.
Glory miss the opportunity to make up ground on leaders Sydney FC after the reigning Champions were shocked 1-0 by rivals Western Sydney Wanderers in Friday’s derby in Kogarah.
Newcastle, on the other hand, are now five matches unbeaten and climb into ninth position.
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Key moments
Perth took a stranglehold on proceedings early in the game and should have taken the lead on eight minutes.
Elrich – a Championship winner with the Jets in 2008 – came within centimetres of scoring his first Glory goal on his starting debut for the club but his cracking drive thundered against the woodwork.
And when Alex Grant hooked the ball back into the fray, the unmarked Joel Chianese somehow blazed his effort from close range way over the bar.
It was a horror miss for the man Popovic reinstalled into the Glory lineup at the expense of Nick D’Agostino. And they were dealt some retribution via a dream strike from Topor-Stanley.
The burly centre half found himself advanced and when Steven Ugarkovic’s shot was blocked, Topor-Stanley let fly with a glorious strike – just his 11th goal from 311 Hyundai A-League games.
Glory hit back when milestone man Nigel Boogaard was penalised for blocking Chianese’s cross with his arm.
Kilkenny, the man with a six from six record from the spot, effortlessly send Lewis Italiano the wrong way to maintain his 100% record and pull the visitors level.
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Robinson issued a double change of new signing Bernie Ibini and Wes Hoolahan for Abdiel Arroyo and Angus Thurgate in a bid to break the second half deadlock and the Jets were soon on the front foot.
Roy O’Donovan headed over, while Dimitri Petratos saw an effort blocked by Tomislav Mrcela after a piercing move involving both the Jets substitutes.
O’Donovan drew fine stop from Liam Reddy as pressure mounted on the Perth keeper’s goal and the breakthrough came for the Irishman on 75 minutes when he tapped in his second goal in as many weeks, after Bobby Burns’ delicious cross clipped Ibini on its way into the area.
Italiano pulled off a brilliant near post stop to deny Bruno Fornaroli as Newcastle held on to a win that breathes new life into their 2019/20 campaign.
Round 22
Perth Glory v Melbourne City
Sunday, 8 March 2020
Venue: HBF Park
Kick-off: 3.00pm local, 6.00pm AEDT
Newcastle Jets have a bye
