Duncan keeps Jets in contest with brilliant performance in tight affair

Newcastle Jets have lots of positives to take away from their latest fixture, a 1-1 draw against the visiting Western Sydney Wanderers.

A crowd of just over 5000 made their way to watch the fixture, with the away active bay being much fuller than the home active section. Newcastle’s defense was immense throughout the majority of the game, with the goal being conceded coming from a questionable penalty.

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The Wanderers would be the unhappiest with a point, missing chance after chance in the game. An early injury to Marcelo left the backline looking less experienced than they would have perhaps wanted.

Jack Duncan was the busiest man on the park in the opening 20 minutes, making five saves before Newcastle Jets had their first attempt at goal, which came in the 33rd minute.

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A quick throw from Duncan following a corner released Jaushua Sotirio, who, if allowed to continue his run, would have had only one player to beat before getting a chance at goal. Adama Traore spotted the danger and brought him down with a professional foul, leading to the first yellow card of the match.

In an instant Newcastle had the lead, with their first shot on target for the game finding a way past the stranded Lawrence Thomas. Dane Ingham delivered a perfect ball over the Wanderers backline, and a charging Angus Thurgate connected sweetly with the header.

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Gabriel Cleur stepped out of the line to press Daniel Stynes, however Stynes managed to move the ball wide to Ingham. Calem Nieuwenhof was the man that was left to track the run of his opposing midfielder, however Thurgate managed to get himself ahead with a perfectly timed run that kept him onside.

Wanderers started the second-half the same way they started the first; lots of possession and not much to show from it. Left-back Traore made way for Sulejman Krpic in an attacking substitution, but the striker made little impact.

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Cleur made amends with a fantastic chase-down of Sotirio who was one-on-one with Thomas. Cleur came from behind to make a vital sliding challenge that meant the ball dribbled out for a goal-kick.

Thurgate went from hero to zero when he brought down N’Gbakoto in the box. Oliver Bozanic put the resulting penalty away calmly, giving Western Sydney momentum again. Newcastle were still applying pressure however, and it took multiple last-ditch tackles to keep them out.

Thurgate giveth, Thurgate taketh away #NEWvWSW

— Josh Howe (@JoshO567) January 22, 2023

Both teams pushed, but ultimately no change to the scoreboard was made after Bozanic’s penalty, with both teams walking away with a point each.

It will be a frustrating point for Newcastle, who could’ve pushed up into 9th had they won it. They currently remain a few points off the finals race at the midpoint in the season. Western Sydney remain in 3rd after this match, surpassing pre-season expectations.

Newcastle Jets 1 (Thurgate 37’)

Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (Bozanic 64’)

McDonald Jones Stadium

Referee: Daniel Elder

Assistant Referees: Ryan Gallagher and Joanna Charaktis

Fourth Official: Sam Kelly

Newcastle Jets: Jack DUNCAN, Dane INGHAM, Carl JENKINSON, Matthew JURMAN, James MCGARRY (Jason HOFFMAN 45’), Beka DARTSMELIA (Mohamed AL-TAY 80’), Angus THURGATE, Daniel STYNES (Reno PISCOPO 45’), Jaushua SOTIRIO, Beka MIKELTADZE (Archie GOODWIN 80’), Trent BUHAGIAR (Kostandinos GROZOS 94’)

Unused subs: Michael WEIER, Mark NATTA

Western Sydney Wanderers: Lawrence THOMAS, Gabriel CLEUR, MARCELO (Alex BONETIG 27’), Tomislav MRCELA, Adama TRAORE (Sulejman KRPIC 55’), Brandon BORRELLO, Oliver BOZANIC, Calem NIEUWENHOF, Daniel WILMERING (Aidan SIMMONS 88’), Ramy NAJJARINE, Yeni N’GBAKOTO (Alexander BADOLATO 88’)

Unused subs: Daniel MARGUSH, Romain AMALFITANO, Alessandro LOPANE

Feature Image Credit: Ngau Kai Yan