01-14-2007, 08:15 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2007 My Local Time: 12:13 AM Location: Australia
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Jets steal point
Sunday, 14 January, 2007 - 10:27PM
Justin Chadwick, Sportal
Joel Griffiths
Joel Griffiths
Two stoppage-time goals from Newcastle striker Joel Griffiths has earned the Jets a remarkable 3-3 draw against Perth in sweltering heat at Members Equity Stadium on Sunday.
The Glory appeared set for victory when goals to Simon Colosimo, Jamie Harnwell and Josip Magdic gave Perth a 3-1 lead after Jets midfielder Nick Carle opened the scoring early in the match.
But with Newcastle's finals tilt on the line, Griffiths put in a Herculean effort in the dying minutes, firing home two goals in the space of three minutes to earn his side a vital point, and in the process ruin Perth champion Bobby Despotovski's farewell match.
The result leaves the Jets precariously-placed in fifth spot on the table at the completion of the penultimate round, one point adrift of fourth-placed Queensland and third-placed Sydney, with a crunch clash against Melbourne in the final round of the season remaining.
Although Perth's own top-four ambitions evaporated last week, it was almost a fitting finale for Despotovski, who bows out of the game after 241 appearances and 113 goals for his beloved Glory.
Newcastle failed to read the script for Despotovski's send-off early on and opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Perth keeper Tommi Tomich parried Mark Bridge's long-range shot into the centre of the penalty area, where Carle reacted quickly and ran past two flat-footed Glory defenders to get to the ball before coolly slotting it home.
The Jets almost doubled the lead four minutes later when Griffiths made a piercing run down the right before releasing Milton Rodriguez just outside the box, but the classy Colombian's long-range strike rolled just wide of Tomich's left post.
Perth created its first real chance on goal in the 22nd minute when a beautiful dinky-header from captain Harnwell found an un-marked Ante Kovacevic in the box, but the Glory defender failed to capitalise on the situation, hesitating and shifting the ball to his left side before spraying his shot over the crossbar.
The home side received a penalty in the 42nd minute when Leo Bertos' cross from the right deflected into Jets defender Jade North's hand, with Colosimo the man to step up to take the kick.
Colosimo drilled the spot-kick low and to the left, and although Jets custodian Ante Covic managed to get a hand to the ball, the power in the kick was enough to see the ball roll into the back of the net.
However, Rodriguez almost fired the visitors ahead immediately after when Tomich panicked and sprayed his attempted clearance straight into the path of the Newcastle striker after a poor back-ball from Glory defender Jamie Coyne.
But the Perth keeper made up for his mistake with a fine save down low to deny Rodriguez, who should have done better in the circumstance.
Retiring Glory legend Despotovski was introduced into the fray after the half-time break to the delight of the 7,904-strong crowd, but it was new-kid-on-the-block Nikita Rukavytsya who almost stole the show, only for the 19-year-old to spurn two good opportunities.
Newcastle striker Mark Bridge found a way through Perth's defence and strolled into the box with only the keeper to beat in the 51st minute, but Tomich was up to the challenge, sticking out his right arm and deflecting the ball to safety to keep Perth in the match.
The game had opened up remarkably, and Perth snatched the lead in the 76th minute when Magdic's thundering strike from 25 yards thumped into the crossbar and skipper Harnwell pounced on the ensuing rebound and prodded it home.
Three minutes later Magdic volleyed a fantastic Bertos cross into the back of the net in what seemed certain to be the sealer, but Griffiths would not give up the contest, pulling the visitors back to with a goal in the 91st minute when the 27-year-old stabbed the ball home after Tomich parried the ball.
Newcastle continued to attack, and Griffiths found himself on the end of a beautiful Jade North cross and made no mistake with the finish to pound home his second goal, just seconds before the final whistle sounded to give the Jets an amazing draw.
Perth 3 (Colosimo 43, Harnwell 76, Magdic 79)
Newcastle 3 (Carle 12, Griffith 91, 94)
Crowd: 7,904 @ Members Equity Stadium
| Credit - A-League.com.au |
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