For the second time this season Newcastle Jets have left Go Media Stadium with all three points after defeating Auckland FC 3-1 in a game where they were reduced to nine men.
The Jets were dealt a huge blow in just the fourth minute of the game when attacking midfielder Alex Badolato was forced from the field with what appeared to be a knee injury after falling awkwardly inside the box and was replaced by Will Dobson.
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE
However, despite losing one of their key attacking midfielders the Jets still had enough firepower to cause the home side problems and they snatched the lead just three minutes later.
Driving down the Jets’ left, Clayton Taylor beat his man before drilling the ball across the face of goal and into the path of the arriving Lachie Rose, who guided the ball beyond Michael Woud and into the back of the net.
In what was a bad sign for the home side, Auckland FC have never won a match in their entire Isuzu UTE A-League history when they’ve conceded the first goal in a game.
However the home side weren’t behind for long; Jesse Randall leaving Jets keeper James Delianov red-faced as he beat the shotstopper at his near post with a clever low freekick from the left edge of the box in the 13th minute.
Three minutes later though this topsy turvy clash at Go Media Stadium took another twist, and it was the Jets who regained the lead.
Driving towards the Auckland box, Taylor fired a low left-footed shot across goal which was palmed away by Woud but straight into the path of the arriving Dobson who tapped home the rebound to make it 2-1.
Now 2-1 up, the Jets were then dealt a major blow as defender Max Cooper was shown his second yellow card in the 21st minute after hauling down Auckland striker Sam Cosgrove on the counter.
Surviving until the break, the Jets made a double change at half time bringing on experienced defender Joe Shaughnessy and Xavier Bertoncello in place of Taylor and Eli Adams while Auckland brought influential skipper Hiroki Sakai on for the second half.
Despite Auckland FC dominating the second half the Jets should have found themselves 3-1 up as Max Burgess stabbed an effort from close range over the bar as he attempted to convert Shaughnessy’s knock down from a freekick.
From that moment on it was backs against the wall stuff for the visitors.
Seemingly trying to get on the end of every ball into the box, Cosgrove had a couple of half chances before substitutes Logan Rogerson and Jonty Bidois both had efforts cleared off the line.
Rogerson then went close again, this time getting on the end of a Francis De Vries cross to the backpost but Delianov was there to claw the ball from under the crossbar and it remained 2-1.
Now throwing the kitchen sink at the Jets, Cosgrove had another effort cleared off the line as a Jets defence that had made in excess of 50 clearances continued to throw their bodies on the line to defend their lead.
Substituted on in the 86th minute, midfielder Christian Bracco lasted less than 10 minutes before suffering what looked to be a serious knee injury meaning Mark Milligan’s side were reduced to NINE men in the dying stages.
However, despite their numerical disadvantage the visitors sucked all the air out of Go Media Stadium as they bagged an incredible third goal in the final seconds of the game to seal a quite astonishing win.
With Auckland keeper Woud deciding to go up for a late corner, the Black Knights’ goal was left unmanned and the Jets would make their hosts pay as Rose and centre back Mark Natta raced into the empty half, with the former applying the finishing touch to wrap up the win.
The result moves the Jets up into fifth spot on the ladder after securing a third win in five matches.
Meanwhile Auckland FC remain on top of the ladder for the time being, although they will be replaced by Sydney FC should the Sky Blues defeat Melbourne City.
WHAT THEY SAID
Auckland FC defender Francis De Vries spoke to Sky Sport NZ after defeat to the Jets.
Victorious Newcastle Jets captain Kosta Grozos spoke to Sky Sport NZ after the full time whistle following that incredible win at Go Media Stadium.
