The Newcastle Jets continue to fly high after an very impressive 4-0 home win over a disappointing New Zealand Knights, they raced to a 3-0 lead by the 36th minute and let their foot off the pedal in the second half as Nick Carle increased the lead with a 69th min penalty. The Jets fans were in good spirits, they give their team a standing ovation at half-time and again at the final whistle. In the second half they started a "great wave" which went around the ground several times.
Ante Milicic last weeks goal scorer "tinged a hamstring" at the end of the warm-up before the game and was replaced by Guy Bates in the starting line ’Äìup.
The NZ Knights started promisingly ’Äì a Zenon Caravella long run and pass to Simon Yeo who was dispossessed in a dangerous position and a Joshua Rose run and shot from outside the area went just high and wide.
By the 6th min the Jets started "flying" A Paul Kohler chip over Danny Milosevic went just wide, then a Labinot Haliti shot from outside the area went just over the cross bar.
In the 11th min a Ned Zelic free kick found Matthew Thompson who headed over Danny Milosevic who was badly caught out coming off his line, the ball hit the upright and
Haliti followed up to tap the ball in, 1-0.
In the 14th min the New Zealand Knights were unlucky not to be given a penalty as Jade North handled a Neil Emblen header, but the referee appeared unsighted and waved play on. John Adshead at the post match press conference declared "we should have got a penalty".
In the 25th min a Nick Carle free kick was cleared back to him, he put up a high ball which found Thompson who was able to head over an advancing Milosevic who again was caught out coming off his line.
The Jets were playing a high tempo pressing first half, similar to last weeks effort against Sydney FC, they gave the New Zealand Knights no time on the ball as a Thompson free kick found Haliti whose header went just wide in the 27th min, three mins later a quick break saw Musialik try a low hard 30m drive along the ground which Milosevic got down well to save.
In the 36th min a beautiful curling Richard Johnson cross found a diving header from Musialik which found the back of the net, 3-0. "I had my eyes closed when I headed it in" admitted Musialik. "It was a beautiful brave goal" added Richard Money.
The 42nd min saw Haliti fire at shot from close range which Milosevic kept out, a minute late saw Simon Yeo break away from the Jets defence and unleash a shot heading for the top far post which was kept out by a diving Liam Reddy.
The first half finished with a Haliti chip over Milosevic which just went wide. The half time whistle brought a standing ovation from the home fans.
The second half began with a Carle curling shot which just went wide of the far post.
John Adshead made three half time substitutions and the New Knights then had a good five minute spell after the break in which included three successive corners, from the first Yeo came close but his effort was stopped by Carle, then the second corner hit the cross bar.
The 62nd min saw Yeo beautifully volleyed past Reddy, but the off side flag was already up.
Zelic saw a free kick hit the cross bar in the 68th min, a min later after a series of beautiful one- two"s around the penalty area had Carle put though but was brought down by Ronnie Bull who received a yellow card and the Jets were given a penalty which Carle easily converted for his first A-League goal, 4-0.
The 75th min saw the home crowd begin its wave as there was no doubt who was going to win this one, the Jets had notably slowed down and the New Zealand Knights missed a cutting edge up front.
The 86th min saw Xiaobin Zhang beat the last defender but then shot just wide of the upright from the edge of the area.
The final whistle brought wild cheers from the home fans and disappointment for the visitors who looked second best for most of the night.
What the coaches had to say:
Richard Money:
"The boys gave a bit extra" "They kept coming at us, we were very clinical, it was never easy" ’ÄúOur energy and effort was great".
John Adshead:
"They caught us by surprise". "They got the breaks and didn"t let us back in" "Our defending was inept, and we paid the price" "A poor day at the office".