The Central Coast Mariners defeated the Newcastle Jets 3-2 in the F3 Darby in Alen Stajcic’s first game in charge at McDonald Jones Stadium in what was an absolute thriller.
The first half didn’t have much to offer in terms of chances or excitement. The Mariners didn’t register a single shot in the first half, but they also managed to keep the Jets scoreless.
The second half took an immediate turn that shocked the home crowd. Matthew Millar had some space on the right wing during a counter-attack and played a nice through ball into the path of Jordan Murray who made no mistake and slotted it inside Glen Moss’ near post.
The Mariners suddenly had the lead in the F3 Derby and Newcastle’s season was in the balance.
Jim Karacan smashed home the Mariners’ second when the ball landed kindly for him near the edge of the box. Connor pain joined in on the action when he his accurate shot dribbled past Glen Moss into the far corner. It was 3-0 and the Jets had a mountain to climb.
Roy O’Donovan grabbed one back for the Jets when Lachlan Jackson’s cross found him inside the six yard box for a tap in. A similar goal was scored minutes later, but this time it was Nigel Boogaard’s cross and Ronald Vargas was ready to tap it in for 3-2.
The Jets were then awarded a penalty in the 90th minute. Ben Kennedy made an excellent save to his lower left, and Daniel Georgievski scored the follow up. Or so we thought… The VAR determined that he was encroaching, and the referee ruled for the penalty to be taken again.
O’Donovan made the exact same mistake again, and this time the Mariners were able to clear it after Kennedy’s save. The final whistle blew and left the home crowd absolutely shocked.
Newcastle Jets 2 (Roy O’Donovan 74’, Ronald Vargas 81’)
Central Coast Mariners 3 (Jordan Murray 51’, Jim Karacan 64’, Connor Pain 67’)
McDonald Jones Stadium
Referee: Adam Kersey
Assistant Referees: Ryan Gallagher & Nathan MacDonald
Fourth Official: Stephen Laurie
Newcastle Jets: Glen Moss (gk), Nigel Boogaard (c), Steven Ugarkovic (Kaine Sheppard 72’), Dimitri Petratos, Jair (Kwabena Appiah-Kubi 65’), Roy O’Donovan, Nicholas Cowburn, Daniel Georgievski, Lachlan Jackson, Matthew Ridenton (Ronald Vargas 58’), Nikolai Topor-Stanley
Unused subs: Angus Thurgate, Lewis Italiano (gk)
Central Coast Mariners: Ben Kennedy (gk), Jonathan Aspropotamitis, Jack Clisby, Tom Hiariej (Joshua Nisbet 67’), Connor Pain, Matthew Millar, Jacob Melling (Mario Shabow 76’), Jordan Murray, Samuel Graham, Stephen Mallon (Peter Kekeris 89’), Jem Karacan (c)
Unused Subs: Lewis Miller, Joe Gauci (gk)
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