Brisbane Roar secured back-to-back away A-League wins after Dylan Wenzel-Halls’ winner helped the Queenslanders beat Newcastle Jets 2-1 on Wednesday.
Wenzel-Halls notched his second goal of the campaign by latching onto Scott McDonald’s defence-splitting pass and firing past Jets ‘keeper Jack Duncan on the hour mark.
Warren Moon’s Brisbane side took the lead after just six minutes through Japanese import Riku Danzaki’s deflected strike before Valentino Yuel thumped the impressive Ramy Najjarine’s corner home shortly before half-time.
That was Yuel’s second goal in as many games after opening his A-League account in Newcastle’s 2-1 defeat to Macarthur on Sunday. Craig Deans’ side edged possession and outshot their opponents 19-4 but could not find fashion another route past debutant Roar goalkeeper Macklin Freke, deputising for the injured Jamie Young.
As such, the Jets ended their 400th A-League game with a 2-1 defeat, their third consecutive loss by that scoreline, and fourth defeat from four 2020/21 matches. Brisbane rise to third place.
Key moments
Newcastle were unchanged by interim coach Craig Deans following their disappointing 2-1 defeat to Macarthur on Sunday, as the Jets stepped out at McDonald Jones Stadium for their 400th A-League game.
The Hunter Valley faithful did not get the positive start they desired. The Jets could not contain the slipper Wenzel-Halls, who found Danzaki in space outside the box.
The 20-year-old Japanese import, who joined Roar from Consadole Sapporo in November, let fly with a shot that hit Nikolai Topor-Stanley and looped over ‘keeper Jack Duncan for his first goal in Australia.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6224363252001
Newcastle again found themselves trailing for the fourth time this season, but the response was impressive from Deans’ charges.
Najjarine glided into the Brisbane defensive third with intent and dragged a shot narrowly across goal after a sharp turn in the box, and the former Western Sydney Wanderers youth product should have registered an assist only for Roy O’Donovan to misjudge his attempt to guide a cross goalward.
O’Donovan forced a very good save down low at the near post from Freke after Yuel’s lay-off, and minutes later, the dangerous Kenya-born attacker headed home the Jets equaliser after thumping in Najjarine’s outstanding corner kick.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6224364852001
The delivery of Najjarine kept Roar and Freke on their toes and, early in the second half, the debutant shot-stopper got away with one, when an unconvincing attempt to punch Najjarine’s corner away amounted to Nigel Boogaard’s header hitting the crossbar.
Jay O’Shea bent a free-kick agonisingly wide of the post and O’Donovan stung the palms of Freke, but Brisbane regained their lead through Wenzel-Hall’s great finish. McDonald’s pass split the Jets defence and the former NPL Queensland hot-shot lashed it low and hard past Duncan – his second goal this season after notching the third in Roar’s 3-1 win over Victory 18 days ago.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6224375130001
Freke saved from Connor O’Toole after miscued pass from the back, while Newcastle threw on the Petratos brothers, Kosta and Maki, in an attempt to mount a late resurgence. But Newcastle could not put Roar under siege, with O’Toole’s snapshot the closest the Jets came to squaring the ledger.
Next Matches
Wellington Phoenix v Newcastle Jets
Sunday, 24 January 2021
Kick-off: 6.05pm AEDT
Venue: WIN Stadium
Broadcast: FOX Sports
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Brisbane Roar v Adelaide United
Saturday, 30 January 2021
Kick-off: 9.15pm AEDT
Venue: Dolphin Stadium, Redcliffe
Broadcast: FOX Sports
Stream: MyFootball Live App, Kayo Sports
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