A-League leaders Adelaide have extended their lead to eight points after a spirted comeback against the second placed Newcastle Jets. Two goals late in the game in a four minute spell by Carl Veart and Louis Brain gave them the win and made them favourites for 'first past the post'. Richard Money acknowledged after the game, "I think Adelaide will finish first past the post - no one can catch them".
It was a wonderful result for Adelaide considering they were missing their influenual midfielder Ross Aloisi and marque striker Qu Shengqing both suspended and could they even afford a missed penalty by Carl Veart in the 43 min.
Newcastle have been Jet propelled on the road being unbeaten in their last 5 away games and they appeared for the first time with their new shirt sponsors "Parklea Markets' in this game. They dominated the first twenty minutes of the game and as early as the 4th min a 30 meter Matthew Thompson went just wide of both upright and cross bar.
The 10th min saw the first corner of the game taken by Nick Carle then cleared by Adelaide, Mateo Corbo won the race for the ball who passed to Carle, he back heeled back to Corbo whose low cross was cleared by Kristian Rees.
In the 14th min saw a Carle flick to Ante Milicic who back heels to Thompson who delays his shot which is blocked by the Adelaide defence. Three mins later Vaughan Coveny is fouled by Richie Alagich near the by line the resulting Carle free kick sees the defence clear to Johnson who scores from outside the penalty with a fiece drive but the goal is dissallowed for a Allan Picken foul.
The 19th min saw the first meaningful Adelaide attack, a Valkanis cross heading for Chad Bugeja was punched away by Reddy. A min later a Veart run was stopped by Jade North just as he was about to shot from the edge of the area.
Adelaide were coming more into the game as a long Bugeja run and then cross was blocked by Picken in the 24 min.
The 25th min saw a freak storm hit the ground, the rain suddenly came thundering down aided by gale force winds, this saw the Adelaide bench empty and get under cover, as well as thousands of fans run for cover. The advertsing boards were blown over and no one was injured. The gale force wind and heavy rain lasted about 8 minutes and fortunately common sense prevailed, the ground staff allowed fans to enter the top tier of the Eastern stand which is normally closed. The 4,000 seats were quickly taken up by the spectators eager to get out of the rain.
The 42 min saw a Zelic free kick to Coveny headed out for a corner.
Picken in the 43 min commited a clumsy foul on Fernando Rech in the penalty area and referee Simon Przydacz pointed to the spot. Przdacz was originally the fourth official but the original referee Ben Williams couldn't make it ot the ground as he was caught up in thunderstorms in Canberra. Veart blasted the kick into the top left hand corner, but referee Przydacz ruled it had to be retaken as Pantelis had encroached the penalty area as Veart took the kick. The retake saw Reddy dive to his right and save Vearts kick much too the amusement of the home fans.
The second half began with the rain still falling but at least the gale winds had gone and it was Adelaide who started the half the better, on 50 mins a Costanzo free kick to Valkanis who heads just over and three mins later a Bugeja break away ending in a over hit pass to Dodd.
The 56th min a Carle flick to Thomson who lays up a shot for Milicic whose shot from outside the area hits the upright with Bajic beaten. A min later Milicic is through on goal and is held back by Valkanis, but the referee Przydacz gives a free kick to Adelaide, Milicic in disbelief gives Przydacz a mouthful and recieves a yellow card.
A fine Dodd run ends in a shot over the bar in the 58th min. A min later a Carle pass to Milicic who gives a nice through ball for Thompson who crosses across the face of the goal for Johnson to head home to the thunderous appaulse of the home crowd. Newcastle Jets lead 1-0.
The 65th min which saw a Milicic run in the penalty area he tries to tee it up for Thompson to hit but is disposed. The turning point of the game came three mins later a Carle pass to Milicic whose low shot along the ground is going inside the near post but Bajic sticks out his right foot just in time to save, the ball spins up in the air to Carle who finds Thompson and from just 2 meters out he manages to fire over the cross bar, had this gone in one wonders would Adelaide have come back ?
They did, the 69th min saw Veart through on goal but Reddy is quickly of his line to clear, five mins later a Dodd shot from outside the area sees Reddy palm the ball onto the upright and out of play. A min later came the equaliser a Brain pass to Dodd who crosses for Veart to fire in from close range. Its 1-1
Four mins came the winner, an Alagich cross to Veart which Picken misses, Veart gives a neat pass to Brain who is running on to the ball and scores from close range. Adelaide lead 2-1.
The final 11 minutes see Adelaide maintain possesion, they are simply too smart. The Jets lose their way in the end and are unable to create a telling opportunity. It brings frustration for the home fans as the Jets couldn't break down the Adelaide defence, Angelo Costanzo was having a wonderful game in the midfield and it was Adelaide who looked more likely to score with Bugeja 82nd min having the final attempton goal.
What was said at the post match press conference:
Richard Money:
"We didn't look quite with it". "We usually go on from a position to win". "Two sloppy goals conceded", "Normally we are very good at holding on to a lead", "If any team in the competition needs a break it is us".
Richard Johnson:
"We can't blame the weather", "It was good to get on the score sheet"
John Kosmina:
"The strong part about our team is we go for 90 mins". "It was always going to be scrappy because of the pitch"
Michael Valkanis:
"We are doing it through hard work. We are very humble"