Perth Glory opened their points account in the Hyundai A-league as they drew with the Newcastle Jets in a nervy affair.
Perth Glory opened their points account in the Hyundai A-league as they drew with the Newcastle Jets in a nervy affair.
Both teams would likely accept that a share of the points was a fair result as the displays from the teams were pretty similar on a dry and difficult to manage pitch.
Glory started the game brightly as Sidnei was proving to be a handful for the Newcastle defence with his clever runs and unpredictable style of play. The amount of possession from the side was also impressive as the team looked to control the game with the only issue for Glory being the lack of chances created.
There was bad news for head coach Alistair Edwards when Josh Risdon was forced to come off after appearing to injure a tendon in his knee early on in the match with Jack Clisby replacing him.
The game-s first opportunity fell to Jamie Maclaren as he eased through the Newcastle defence on the half-hour mark and hit a shot towards goal, only to see the ball comfortably dealt with by the goalkeeper.
This seemed to motivate the Newcastle Jet players as they began to threaten Danny Vukovic-s goal just before half-time. Scott Neville attempted to header a cross which was floated into the box only for it to hit off his shoulder and go inches by the post with Kew Jaliens heading over the crossbar only moments later.
HALF-TIME – Newcastle Jets 0-0 Perth Glory
The 2nd half begun in similar fashion to the 1st half as Sidnei was proving to be troublesome to the Newcastle defence once more with him forcing the goalkeeper into a decent save from a header.
Newcastle Jets came the closest of either team however just before the hour mark as Adam Taggart-s cross proved to be more dangerous than anyone would have thought as he smacked the crossbar with the rebound being blazed well over.
The home side continued to trouble the Glory goal as Neville forced Vukovic to make a strong save as he powered a shot towards goal.
The resulting corner from that attack gave Glory a huge opportunity as they countered with substitute Chris Harold shooting at goal before a last-ditch challenge blocked the effort, which appeared to deflect off the Newcastle defender-s arm but the referee decided it was not deliberate.
The WA side-s biggest opportunity came in the 76th minute when a lapse of concentration in the Newcastle defence left Maclaren one on one with the goalkeeper but the youngster was unable to capitalize as he didn-t fully connect with his shot.
The chances kept on coming for Glory and the impressive Sidnei decided to go for goal well outside the box and even though he connected brilliantly with the shot, the goalkeeper produced a good save to knock it by the post.
Even though both sides surged forward in equal measure for the remaining few minutes, that was the final opportunity of the game as both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils.
Hyundai A-League 2013-2014 Season – Week 2
Newcastle Jets 0-0 Perth Glory
Hunter Stadium
Sunday 20th October
Attendance: 12,383
Referee: Shaun Evans
Newcastle Jets
1. Mark BIRIGHITTI (GK), 2. Scott NEVILLE, 4. Kew JALIENS (16. Jacob PEPPER), 6. Zenon CARAVELLA, 8. Ruben ZADKOVICH (c), 10. Nathan BURNS, 11. Craig GOODWIN (18. James BROWN), 12. Connor CHAPMAN, 19. Michael BRIDGES (17. James VIRGILI), 21. Sam GALLAWAY, 22. Adam TAGGART.
Subs not used: 15. Joshua BRILLIANTE, 20. Sam KENNEDY
Perth Glory
1.Daniel VUKOVIC (GK), 3. Brandon O-NEILL, 4. Ryan EDWARDS, 5. Steve PANTELIDIS, 7. Jacob BURNS (c), 10. Jamie MACLAREN, 11. Adrian ZAHRA (17. Chris HAROLD), 14. Steven MCGARRY (6. Cameron EDWARDS), 16. Sidnei SCIOLA MORAES, 19. Joshua RISDON (2. Jack CLISBY), 21. Scott JAMIESON.
Subs not used: 18. Jack DUNCAN, 20. Daniel DE SILVA
Thomas Blane
