Western United’s hopes of securing the A-League Men Premiership have taken a hammer blow, opening the door for Melbourne City to claim the plate after slumping to a 1-1 draw with Newcastle.
John Aloisi’s United entered their penultimate game two points behind Melbourne City and one behind Melbourne Victory, who have just one game left.
They realistically had to beat the Jets, given leaders City were in action against wooden spooners Perth Glory on Wednesday, to have a shot at silverware before the final round.
Things were on track when Adisu Bayew scored in the 27th minute but several missed opportunities, then Jordan Elsey’s 52nd-minute header, meant United only claimed a draw.
Wednesday’s result also opened the door for Melbourne Victory, who are level with United on 45 points to snatch a top-two spot.
United snatched the lead at McDonald Jones Stadium when Neil Kilkenny burst forward through the Jets defence before squaring.
Aleksandar Prijovic let the ball go, aware he could be offside, and Bayew tapped home.
Newcastle almost equalised on the counter in the 37th minute when Sam Silvera tried his luck with a fierce shot from just behind the halfway line.
Jamie Young got back just in time to make an outstanding one-handed save.
Lachie Wales blasted just over the bar in the 40th minute.
Then Newcastle goalkeeper Michael Weier stepped up, denying Kilkenny in the 44th then pulling off an extraordinary one-handed save to stop Connor Pain a minute later.
Seven minutes after the break, the Jets struck.
Silvera looped in a wonderful corner and Elsey leapt highest at the back post to head home.
Newcastle should really have won from there with Beka Mikeltadze and Silvera hitting the post in the 62nd and 74th minutes respectively while Young denied Lucas Mauragis in the 68th.
United’s night was further soured by substitute Dylan Pierias limping off in the 70th, while they had earlier confirmed Steven Lustica (calf) would miss three-to-four weeks.
RE-LIVE: NEWCASTLE JETS 0-0 WESTERN UNITED, AS IT HAPPENED
By Matt Comito for KEEPUP
74′: CHANCE! Silvera rattles the post (1-1)
Both of Western’s posts have rattled after Mikeltadze and Silvera’s attempts in the second half.
68′: SAVE! Young to the rescue
Lucas Mauragis fires on goal – but Young stops the Jets pulling ahead with repeat efforts, first stopping the ball from hitting the bottom right corner before readjusting to gather as it squirmed toward the goal line.
62′: OFF THE POST! (1-1)
Beka Mikeltadze goes close to flipping the script on Western, cutting off the right flank before lashing a left-footed strike off the the post.
The Georgian international was unlucky not to see the ball skim off the woodwork and into the back of the net.
52′: GOAL! Elsey draws Jets level (1-1)
It’s a goal of significance in the Premiership race.
Jordan Elsey’s headed goal from Silvera’s delivery brings the Jets level at 1-1 with Western, who need to take all three points from McDonald Jones Stadium to ensure City cannot win the Premiers Plate on their own terms against Perth this evening.
HALF-TIME: JETS 0-1 WESTERN
Adisu Bayew’s 27th-minute strike is all that separates the two sides at the break, with Western one half away from ensuring the Premiership race continues into the weekend.
37′: CHANCE! Silvera nearly with the late claim for goal of the season (0-1)
That would have been something special from Samuel Silvera.
As the Jets turned the ball over in their defensive half, the ball was fed to Silvera to launch an attack. But before he crossed the halfway line, the Jets attacking midfielder sent the ball toward goalward, and Western keeper Jamie Young backtracking.
Young got a hand on the ball, pushing it onto the crossbar as he crashed into the post in a painful moment for the Western keeper.
27′: GOAL! Bayew finds the breakthrough (0-1)
Western’s push for the Premiership is on! The visitors sparked an attack down the left wing, and as the cross from out wide was repelled by the Jets, Neil Kilkenny collected the ball to drive into the box.
Kilkenny took a loose touch which appeared destined for the feet of Aleksandar Prijovic, but the Western striker elected not to touch the ball as Kilkenny collected the ball once more to slot a cross into the path of Bayew to finish.
16′: CHANCE! Bayew goes close (0-0)
Adisu Bayew has the first genuine chance of the night, striking from the edge of the box into the shoulder of Mario Arques as the Jets conceded a corner.
The visitors had claims for a penalty waved away by referee Jonathan Borrero, who adjudged the Jets midfielder did not handle the ball in the penalty area.
1′: KICK-OFF (0-0)
We’re underway at McDonald Jones Stadium!
