The Newcastle Jets are into their first Grand Final and into the 2009 Asian Champions League. In dramatic scenes the Jets fans counted down the final seconds of the match but watched in disbelief as referee Peter Green gave the Roar a soft penalty as D'Apuzzo and Lynch tangled with the clock showing 90:02. Reinaldo converted putting the disbelieving Jets fans into stunned silence and sending the game into extra time. The Jets stepped up a gear in extra time and goals to Joel Griffiths and Elrich saw them through.
The Jets lined up with a 4-2-3-1 formation Musialik replaced Spencer and D'Apuzzo replaced Song in the starting line up. The Roar would have felt confident of a result in Newcastle where they have never lost and indeed posted their biggest A-League ever win, a 5-0 thrashing of the locals. The Roar lined up with a 4-3-3 with Tiatto returning from suspension to take his place on he bench.
It was the Roar who commenced with an almost dream start with a Zullo run and cross that finds Marcinho in front of goal but he hits it over the cross bar.
The home teams first attack comes in the 6th minute with a wonderful Thomson run in which he rounds three defenders in the penalty area only to see his thumping shot hit the cross bar and go out.
On 19 minutes Musialik slips and Mckay is goal bound, his left footed shot ends up across the face of the goal, a minute later and Elrich has a shot from outside the penalty area, Reddy is forced to make a full length diving save.
The Jets are dominating possession but the Roar break quickly once they get the ball and they look dangerous, D'Apuzzo gives the ball straight to Reinaldo who runs at goal and tees up Zullo who fires over the cross bar.
The Roar create a number of chances, Marcinho finds Kruse on the edge of the penalty area he is just wide with a low drive, Marcinho puts Zullo through but he fires wide. Then Kruse finds Zullo who could be competing a hatrick but his soft shot is saved by Covic.
The Jets respond on 32 minutes Thomson flicks on to Joel Griffiths, he fires a low shot which is going in but Reddy makes a full length save he gets a hand on the ball and is able to push it around the upright.
On 39 minutes D'Apuzzo finds Bridge with a lovely pass, Bridge makes it to the by line and he is able to get his cross past Zullo, Reddy can only get a hand on it, the ball falls to Thomson who smashes it in, 1-0 Jets.
The last action of the half has Bridge putting Griffiths away, he is on goal but his shot is well saved.
The second half has the Jets defending deeper and the Roar creating chances, Ognenovski is just wide with a free kick from just outside the penalty area, Zullo tries a overhead but the Roar don't look like scoring. Farina sensing this sends on Tiatto and Minniecon in the 64th minute. Moore and Zullo have further chances but its still the Jets leading.
The Jets appear to wrap up the game with 10 minutes remaining Thomson puts Joel Griffiths through, he draws the keeper and passes to Hearfield who taps the ball into a empty net, the crowd go into raptures but the linesmen unbelievably has his flag up, television replays reveal Joel Griffiths was indeed well onside.
With two minutes remaining the Jets have a 3 on 2 Joel Griffiths finds Bridge but he is lazy in finding the unmarked Hearfield and the ball is cleared.
It gets worse for the home fans, the final minutes have them cheering every clearance, on 90 minutes Zullo crosses for Lynch he is tangling with D'Apuzzo and falls, amazingly referee Peter Green points to the spot and up steps Reinaldo in front of several hundred travelling Roar fans and with their season on the line, he converts its 1-1 and extra time.
On 95 minutes Joel Griffiths is clear past Moore who fouls him but no free kick or card is given. The defining moment arrives on 102 minutes Joel Griffiths finds Song who is fouled ??? by Ognenovski in the area, and Green points to the spot, perhaps a harsh decision but Joel Griffiths steps up to take it and scores, its 4 goals in 4 games against the Roar for Joel this season, its 2-1 Jets.
Song and Griffiths combine again this time Bridge is released on goal but he fails to get the final shot in. The two exchange passes again seven minutes later and Griffiths gives the final pass to Elrich who smashes the ball into the top of the net, Elrich finally scores his first A-League goal, its 3-1 Jets.
Moore is sent off for an elbow on Bridge, and then Bridge tries to chip Reddy from 35 meters as he is off his line but its straight at Reddy.
The third soft penalty is awarded as Elrich fouls ??? Zullo. Reinaldo scores from the spot and the Roar who never get a penalty suddenly have two in one game. But the Jets hang on to their first ever grand final qualification, they never made one in their NSL days. There were emotional scenes amongst the fans - particularly from the old Breakers fans.