Brisbane Roar has fallen to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Newcastle Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Goals either side of the break proved the difference between the two sides with Head Coach John Aloisi saying his side went away from their style of play in search of goals late in the match.
“Goals change games. This is our seventh game now, and in five, we’ve been chasing the game. That goal before half-time didn’t help us – I thought we were in control before that and they caught us out, and we should have defended it better,” Aloisi said.
“They then scored on the counter attack and we lost our way after that – our players became anxious and we didn’t play our football.
“We have to pick ourselves up because we have an important game against the Victory on Friday night.”
The Roar carved the best chance of the opening 20 minutes, starting on the front foot and would have struck first in the early stages if not for a superb reaction save from Glen Moss to deny a glancing effort from Eric Bautheac.
The Jets grew into the contest as the first period drew on with both Steven Ugarkovic and Dimitri Petratos firing efforts which narrowly fizzed wide of the target, before opening the scoring with their first shot on target on the stroke of half-time through Kaine Sheppard.
Their home side went close to doubling their advantage just minutes after the restart as the upright and a double save from Jamie Young came to the visitors rescue.
The home side would be the next to score however, doubling their lead just before the hour mark in controversial circumstances, breaking on a counter attack which was finished by a Jair strike into the top corner.
Despite the introduction of strikers Dylan Wenzel-Halls and Adam Taggart late in the piece, the second half would play out without too many clear-cut chances at either ends of the pitch, with the home side taking all three points.
Goalkeeper Jamie Young says it was the Jets transition play which caused the Roar the most trouble.
“Newcastle were very good in transition. The goal before half-time was a blow, and then it opened up in the second half which is their strength,” Young said post-match.
“It comes down to moments. When we do concede, the game gets stretched a bit which we need to work on.”
John Aloisi’s men return to Suncorp Stadium for the final time in 2018 on Friday night, hosting Keisuke Honda & second placed Melbourne Victory in a blockbuster clash (6:50pm KO QLD time).
STORY OF THE GAME
- The Jets opened the scoring with their only shot on target of the first half, through Kaine Sheppard in stoppage time.
- Newcastle doubled their lead shortly before the hour mark through Jair.
- Danish midfielder Thomas Kristensen played game number 50 in the Hyundai A-League on Sunday afternoon at McDonald Jones Stadium.
- Dylan Wenzel-Halls made his third Hyundai A-League appearance while Adam Taggart played the final 20 minutes after starting on the bench.
GOALS
Newcastle Jets – Sheppard 45′ – 1-0
A low ball from the right wing finds Kaine Sheppard in the middle who finishes well on the stroke of the break.
Newcastle Jets – Jair 58′ – 2-0
The Jets break on the counter following a strong tackle on Matt McKay with Dimitri Petratos drawing in the defence before laying off to Jair who finished into the top corner.
MATCH DETAILS
Hyundai A-League 2018/19 – Round 7: Newcastle Jets v Brisbane Roar
McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Sunday, 9 December
Newcastle Jets 2 (Sheppard 45′, Jair 58′)
Brisbane Roar 0
Half-time: 1-0
