Sydney FC will face Auckland FC in the Isuzu UTE Grand Final after a dramatic penalty shootout win at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Piero Quispe scored first around the hour mark before Eli Adams’s equaliser at the death of the 90 minutes forced extra-time.
Newcastle had more of the attack throughout the first stage of the game, with both Lachie Rose and Clayton Taylor missing difficult chances.
James Delianov spared Mark Natta’s blushes, making a strong save to deny Tiago Quintal after the Sydney attacker dispossessed the Newcastle defender.
This turned the momentum in Sydney’s favour, but the score remained 0-0 as neither Akol Akon nor Apostolos Stamatelopoulos could get their shots on target.
Stamatelopoulos was lucky to get away with one late in the first half, stomping on Lachlan Bayliss’s already strapped hand after the Kiwi winger was brought to ground in a challenge.
Sydney hit the front through Quispe just after the hour mark, the Peruvian winger in the right place to tap home the rebound from Akon’s saved shot.
Newcastle came within millimetres of an equaliser 10 minutes later, Taylor’s low whipped cross just too far ahead of the diving Xavier Bertoncello.
Harrison Devenish-Meares had had a quiet night up to the 86th minute, but he was there and ready to deny Joe Shaughnessey’s effort from a Taylor cutback.
With Sydney looking like they were home, up stepped Adams in the very last minute of stoppage time to bang in an equaliser on the half-volley.
With both teams tiring, the match couldn’t be settled in extra-time and needed penalties to decide who would continue to the Grand Final.
Sydney substitute Joe Lolley had his penalty saved first, then Newcastle sub Kosta Grozos had his stopped.
Rhys Youlley, Kota Mizunuma, Victor Campuzano and Ben Gibson all scored their spot kicks to keep the shootout level.
Sydney FC skipper Rhyan Grant put his penalty straight down the middle, before Bertoncello had his saved by Devenish-Meares.
Ben Garuccio stepped up to convert his kick and send Sydney through to the Grand Final in Auckland next weekend.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
Sydney FC goal: Quispe 64′
Newcastle Jets goal: Adams 96′
