The Newcastle Jets have kept their faint finals aspirations alive with a 3-1 victory over a depleted Adelaide United team at ServiceFM Stadium.
Kiwi star Kelli Brown kicked off the scoring, while Isabel Hodgson levelled things up at 1-1 by half-time. However, goals from Josie Allen and Brown in the second half secured the win for the Jets.
With Fiona Worts departing for Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels and several players sidelined due to injuries, international commitments, and personal circumstances, Adelaide United faced an uphill battle with only three outfield players available from the bench.
Despite Newcastle dominating possession early on, it was Adelaide who managed to register the first significant shot on target after 15 minutes. Lara Gooch’s effort forced a brilliant save from debutant keeper Ally Boertje.
The Jets took the lead in the 23rd minute when Brown capitalised on a mistake from Dylan Holmes, slotting the ball into the bottom corner to make it 1-0.
Adelaide’s goalkeeper Claudia Jenkins made a vital triple-save to keep the score at 1-0, first deflecting a cross from Melina Ayres, then stopping Brown’s subsequent attempt, and finally parrying Ayres’s hard shot from the rebound out for a corner.
Just before half-time, Adelaide’s captain Hodgson managed to find the equaliser, getting in front of her marker Zoe Karipidis to deftly flick Chelsie Dawber’s in-swinging cross into the net.
Newcastle regained the lead ten minutes into the second half when Sophie Hoban outmuscled Ella Tonkin and cut the ball back for Josie Allen to calmly finish into an empty net.
Following this, the Jets applied intense pressure, with Adelaide’s defenders putting in a heroic effort to prevent further goals.
Brown netted her second of the match in a manner reminiscent of her first, seizing a through ball behind the Adelaide defence and sliding it past the keeper into the far corner, extending Newcastle’s lead to two goals with under ten minutes remaining.
Adelaide United will play host to Wellington next Friday in the final round of the season, while Newcastle will be waiting on results from tomorrow before they face Melbourne City on Sunday, hoping to determine if finals football is in their future this season.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
Goal for Newcastle Jets: Brown 23′
Goal for Adelaide United: Isabel Hodgson 41′
Goal for Newcastle Jets: J. Allen 55′
Goal for Newcastle Jets: Brown 83′
WHAT THEY SAID
Compiled by SportArena.au.
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